Overview
- Kpler ship‑tracking data show India imported about 2.8 million barrels per day of Russian crude in July 2026, which was just over half of the country’s roughly 5 million bpd of total crude imports.
- Refiners cited immediate availability, freight and insurance advantages, and existing logistics set‑ups as reasons for preferring Russian grades even as Gulf supplies began to recover in July.
- India’s refined fuel exports rose to a one‑year high in July as strong diesel margins and ample crude runs from Reliance and Nayara let refiners ship more product abroad.
- New Delhi is diversifying gas supplies at the same time, with U.S. LPG and LNG shipments rising and plans to source a larger share from the United States by 2027 to reduce reliance on Hormuz transit.
- A U.S. Senate bill that could let the president impose tariffs on major buyers of Russian energy has advanced but is not law, so it has not yet changed India’s commercial buying patterns though it poses a potential future policy risk.