By: The Trek News Desk
India has logged its steepest monthly drop in Russian crude imports to date, marking a significant shift in its energy sourcing pattern. Fresh data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry shows that in October 2025, India’s crude imports from Russia fell 38% in value and 31% in volume compared to the same month last year.
Steep Slide in Value and Volume
India purchased $3.55 billion worth of Russian crude in October 2025, far lower than the $5.8 billion imported in October 2024, which remains one of the country’s highest monthly purchase levels on record.
In physical volume as well, imports dipped from 10.38 million tonnes last year to 7.16 million tonnes this year.
High Base Effect and Overall Import Slowdown
Energy analysts point to two major reasons behind this sharp pullback:
- India’s unusually high buying levels in 2024, creating a ‘high base effect’, and
- A broader decline in India’s total crude import bill, which slid 15.4% in October 2025.
U.S. Oil Purchases Surge
In a contrasting trend, India’s imports from the United States leapt noticeably during the same period:
- Nearly 40% rise in volume
- 18.3% increase in value
The shift reflects India’s widening of supply options as global trade dynamics grow more complex.
Part of a Longer Strategic Rebalancing
India’s gradual recalibration away from Russian crude did not begin recently. Observers note that this adjustment started months before Washington imposed a 25% tariff penalty on India in August 2025 over Russian oil purchases.
Out of the last 12 months, nine have registered year-on-year declines in Russian oil inflows, with six of those months seeing drops of more than 20%.
Russia Still Dominant in India’s Oil Mix
Despite the reductions, Russia remains a major player, contributing about 32% of India’s overall crude imports, both by value and by volume.
Month-to-Month Trends Tell a Different Story
Interestingly, when compared to September 2025, India’s Russian oil imports in October actually went up:
- 7.3% higher in value
- 7.8% higher in volume
This suggests that India is navigating a careful middle path, balancing price advantages, geopolitical pressures, and long-term energy security.
Source: News Agencies
