India’s Russian crude oil imports experienced a precipitous decline in the final months of 2025, with December figures showing a dramatic 35% month-on-month drop from November levels. While US crude imports to India surged by 65.6% to $8.2 billion during April-December 2025, Russian crude imports contracted by more than 17%, falling from $40 billion to $33.1 billion compared to the previous year.
The December 2025 import statistics reveal the acceleration of this trend. Russian crude shipments to India totaled $2.71 billion in December 2025, down 15.15% from $3.2 billion in December 2024, but more significantly, down sharply from $3.72 billion in November 2025. This steep monthly decline represents the most dramatic contraction seen throughout the year, making Russia the only supplier among India’s top five to record negative annual growth.
In stark contrast, India’s other major crude suppliers enjoyed robust expansion. Saudi Arabia achieved exceptional growth with a 61% year-on-year surge, delivering crude valued at $1.75 billion in December 2025. The United States posted a strong 31% increase, with shipments reaching $569.30 million. Iraq contributed $2.37 billion in crude imports, up 4.56%, while the UAE supplied $1.65 billion, reflecting a 6% annual rise.
Analysts point to the timing of the decline as significant, coming in the months following the US implementation of a 25% punitive tariff on Indian goods on August 27, 2025. This measure was explicitly designed to deter India from purchasing sanctioned Russian petroleum. Monthly import figures demonstrate the policy’s escalating impact: Russian crude imports stood at $3.62 billion in July 2025, declining to $3.59 billion in August, $3.32 billion in September, $3.56 billion in October, $3.72 billion in November, before plummeting to $2.71 billion in December.
India’s comprehensive crude oil imports from all sources amounted to $11.29 billion in December 2025, up 9.1% from $10.34 billion in December 2024. For the April-December 2025 period, total imports stood at $105.10 billion, compared to $109.33 billion in the equivalent period of 2024. Officials maintain that safeguarding energy access for 1.4 billion citizens remains the primary objective, with source diversification adapting to market realities and international developments.