Approximately 83% of India’s imports from Russia were crude oil, amounting to 4.8 billion euros, while oil products and coal imports reached 550 million euros and 429 million euros, respectively.
According to CREA, “India’s total crude import volumes saw an 8% month-on-month rise in May, attributed in part to a 21% increase in Russian imports.”
Significant rises in Russian crude shipments were recorded at major refining hubs in India. The Vadinar refinery in Gujarat saw a 36% increase in unloaded volumes compared to April, while the Jamnagar refining complex experienced a 14% rise in deliveries.
Furthermore, CREA noted that state-owned refiners boosted their purchases after resuming imports earlier this year. The New Mangalore and Visakhapatnam refineries, which had stopped importing Russian crude at the end of November 2025, resumed purchases in March.
In May, Russian crude deliveries to New Mangalore grew by 13% month-on-month, while imports at Visakhapatnam surged by 42%, according to the report.
The Paradip refinery on Odisha’s east coast also received its highest quantity of Russian crude in two years, emphasizing the ongoing appeal of discounted Russian oil for Indian refiners amidst changing geopolitical and sanctions pressures.
As one of the top buyers of Russian oil, India capitalized on Western sanctions and trade restrictions, which have transformed global energy dynamics following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Indian refiners have notably increased their intake of discounted Russian crude, alleviating higher energy costs while improving refining margins and boosting petroleum product exports.
The latest data indicates that Russian oil continues to represent a major portion of India’s crude import mix, even as the nation diversifies its sources from the Middle East, Africa, and the United States.
CREA reported that in May, China accounted for 50% of Russia’s crude exports, followed by India (36%), Turkiye (6%), and the EU (5%).
In May 2026, China remained the leading global buyer of Russian fossil fuels, representing 38% (7.0 billion euros) of Russia’s export revenue from the top five importers. Crude oil comprised 69% (4.8 billion euros) of China’s acquisitions, followed by pipeline gas (618 million euros), coal (525 million euros), and LNG (510 million euros). Oil products (479 million euros) completed the remainder of China’s imports,” it stated.
CREA added that despite the EU’s ban on imports of oil products derived from Russian crude as of January 21, 2026, 10 shipments of such products were delivered at EU ports in May.
Refineries using Russian crude in India, Turkiye, Brunei, and Georgia exported 641 million euros worth of oil products to countries imposing sanctions in May 2026. These included the EU (174 million euros), Australia (275 million euros), the US (147 million euros), and New Zealand (45 million euros). An estimated 214 million euros of these products were refined from Russian crude,” it noted.
Exports to the US were sourced from Reliance Industries Ltd’s Jamnagar refinery, the SOCAR-owned STAR refinery in Turkiye, and the Tupras Izmit refinery. “In the preceding three months, 39% of STAR refinery’s crude feedstock and 15% of Jamnagar refinery’s feedstock were obtained from Russia,” it added.
