India Russian Oil Imports Hit Two Year Low Amid Tighter Sanctions
India Russian oil imports fell 22 percent in December to 1.38 million barrels per day. Tighter sanctions forced a shift toward Middle Eastern OPEC suppliers.
Insights:
India 
INsaw its crude oil imports from Russia 
RUplummet to their lowest level in two years during December 2025. Data reveals that imports fell 22 percent month-on-month to an average of 1.38 million barrels per day as tighter enforcement of sanctions by the United States 
USand the European Union 
EU restricted trade flows. This development represents a significant shift for the world's third-largest oil importer, which had emerged as the primary buyer of discounted Russian seaborne crude following the start of the Ukraine war in 2022.
INsaw its crude oil imports from Russia RUplummet to their lowest level in two years during December 2025. Data reveals that imports fell 22 percent month-on-month to an average of 1.38 million barrels per day as tighter enforcement of sanctions by the United States USand the European Union EU restricted trade flows. This development represents a significant shift for the world's third-largest oil importer, which had emerged as the primary buyer of discounted Russian seaborne crude following the start of the Ukraine war in 2022.The reduction in Russian volumes has directly benefited traditional suppliers within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). OPEC's share of the Indian market climbed to 53.2 percent in December, marking an 11-month high. Conversely, the Russian portion of total imports dropped to 27.4 percent, the lowest level recorded since January 2023. While Russiaremained the top overall supplier to Indiain December and throughout the first nine months of the 2025-26 fiscal year, the annual data shows a cooling trend. For the full year of 2025, the Russian share of imports was 33.3 percent, down from 36 percent in 2024, while OPEC’s share rose to 50 percent from 49 percent the previous year.
