Chart: Russia's Oil Exports to India Peaked in Mid 2025, Then Fell, But Continued

Data collected by maritime data analytics firm Kplr shows that India's oil imports from Russia has continued into January. Russia continues to be the largest exporter to India for oil, though the difference between exports from Russia and Iraq is shrinking.

The Wire Staff

chart russia s oil exports to india peaked in mid 2025 then fell but continued

Photo: AP. Illustration: The Wire, with Canva.

New Delhi: As part of his announcement that the US and India have reached a "historic" trade deal, US President Donald Trump announced that India will no longer be buying any Russian oil, and will be buying more oil from the US and perhaps Venezuela. He had spoken on India stopping Russian imports earlier as well, calling it a "good step".

India's imports of Russian oil had become sticking point between the two countries, with Trump imposing a 25% "penalty" on Indian goods exported to the US on top of the 25% "reciprocal tariff" he was charging since August last year. India had criticised this move, saying it was being dragged into “a geopolitical contest not of its making”.

Since neither India or the US has released any official documentation on the trade deal, it is not yet known what exactly the agreement is. India has neither denied nor confirmed Trump's assertions around Russian oil purchases, though commerce minister Piyush Goyal said in his parliamentary remarks that "diversifying of energy sources" is part of India's strategy towards being energy secure.

Russia has said that New Delhi has not communicated any reduction in its oil inflows, but it is aware that India is diversifying oil imports.

Data collected by maritime data analytics firm Kplr shows that India's oil imports from Russia – which had peaked suddenly after the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the cheap availability of Russian oil – has continued into January. After a large peak in June 2025, the quantity of oil India imports from Russia has been falling – but Russia continues to be the largest source of oil for India until January. The December 2025-January 2026 period shows a much steeper fall than the months before, perhaps as a result of negotiations with the US.

In January – the month that ended just days before Trump's announcement – India imported 1,163 kbpd of oil from Russia. Imports from Iraq were at a close second, at 1,028 kbpd. The difference between imports from Russia and Iraq has narrowed considerably in the last month.

This article went live on February fifth, two thousand twenty six, at forty-three minutes past one in the afternoon.

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