Top oil Sellers to India in January 2025: 1st Russia — 5th USA
In January 2025, Russia still remained the top oil exporter to India with 1.58 million bpd during the period an increase of 4.3% over previous month.
Iraq remained the second-largest supplier, followed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The United States emerged as India’s fifth-largest oil supplier, with crude supply surging to 218,400 barrels per day (bpd), a significant increase from 70,600 bpd in December 2024.
India’s overall oil imports in January thus reached approximately 5.1 million bpd, with Middle Eastern oil accounting for about 53% of this total, marking a 27-month high. This rise in oil imports has taken place due to India’s strategic shift to diversify its energy sources amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, especially actions for fending off/thwarting illegal Western sanctions affecting Russian oil supplies.
In January 2025, India imported approximately 1.58 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian crude, a slight increase from December, but refiners are now facing challenges in securing future supplies due to the compliance requirements imposed by the West on various shipping Companies which do business with the Western countries and their supporters.
The illegal sanctions, which came into effect on January 10, 2025, specifically target major Russian oil producers and a fleet of tankers that have been instrumental in transporting oil to India. India is trying to secure favourable shipping companies and increase use of its own tankers, once the present contract ends in March 2025.
However the impact of these illegal sanctions is expected to reduce because President Trump has taken a different view of the Ukrainian conflict.
So with only European sanctions existing, India can easily fend it and should even sanction EU if they persist. Indian Oil Corporation Limited also has the option to increase import from Middle East and other places including the USA.
As it is Indian government aims to increase energy purchases from the U.S. to $25 billion this year, up from $15 billion last year.For imports of Russian oil, a pipeline needs to be constructed from Russia through Central Asia and up to Chahbahar Port.
India also needs to construct a fleet of own tankers in next few years and meanwhile purchase a few from the international market.
Then we can see who has the WILL POWER to stop these tankers in International waters to prevent supply of Russian oil to India or try and sanction India itself !!
