India remained the world’s largest destination for Russian crude in September, taking in 1.82 million barrels per day (bpd) – a 29 % drop from the 2.6 m bpd peak in June and the 2.57 m bpd in July. Chinese refiners stepped up, now buying 1.49 m bpd, tightening the global supply of Russian oil.
US pressure has pushed countries to rethink Russian purchases, with the Trump administration authorising tariffs up to 100 % on imports from nations buying Russian crude. Yet Sumit Ritolia, senior manager at data‑analytics firm Kpler, notes the decline also stems from tighter availability and Chinese competition, partly driven by reduced Iranian oil access.
Kpler’s ship‑tracking data points to India’s Russian imports holding steady at roughly 1.8–1.9 m bpd in October, after a recent dip to 2.02 m bpd in August. Analysts see the pattern as a balance between supply constraints and market demand.
Meanwhile, a U.S. diesel deal with Moscow and the re‑entry of Venezuelan crude – 257 k bpd in September – add layers to India’s import mix, illustrating how geopolitical shifts ripple through global oil flows.