An analysis of India’s top five crude oil suppliers for 2025 reveals Russia as the sole source experiencing declining imports, while all other major suppliers expanded their shipments. Government statistics show that US crude imports to India jumped by 65.6% to $8.2 billion during April-December 2025, while Russian crude imports fell by over 17%, declining from $40 billion to $33.1 billion year-on-year.
December 2025 data provides a clear snapshot of this divergent performance. Russian crude imports to India decreased by 15.15% to $2.71 billion in December 2025, compared to $3.2 billion in December 2024. This contraction contrasts sharply with the growth experienced by Iraq, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, making Russia’s declining share particularly noteworthy.
India’s other principal crude suppliers posted impressive growth rates. Saudi Arabia led the expansion with a spectacular 61% year-on-year increase, supplying crude worth $1.75 billion in December 2025. The United States demonstrated strong growth of 31%, with shipments totaling $569.30 million. Iraq recorded a modest but positive 4.56% increase to $2.37 billion, while UAE crude deliveries rose 6% to reach $1.65 billion.
Industry experts attribute the decline in Russian crude imports to the economic pressure applied through US trade policy. The 25% punitive tariff on Indian goods, imposed on August 27, 2025, was specifically designed to discourage India from purchasing sanctioned Russian petroleum. Monthly import data reflects the policy’s growing effectiveness, with Russian crude imports declining from $3.62 billion in July 2025 to $2.71 billion by December 2025.
India’s total crude imports from approximately 39 countries reached $11.29 billion in December 2025, reflecting a 9.1% increase over December 2024. Cumulative imports for the April-December 2025 period totaled $105.10 billion, slightly below the $109.33 billion recorded in the same timeframe of 2024. Government officials continue to emphasize that ensuring energy security for the nation’s 1.4 billion citizens drives all procurement strategies, with diversification playing a crucial role.