India’s purchases of sanctioned Russian petroleum declined significantly in late 2025 as the country navigated an increasingly complex international trade environment. Data shows that US crude imports to India surged by 65.6% to $8.2 billion during April-December 2025, while Russian crude imports contracted by more than 17%, falling from $40 billion to $33.1 billion year-on-year.
December 2025 witnessed the acceleration of this decline. Russian crude shipments to India, classified as sanctioned petroleum under US policy, totaled $2.71 billion, down 15.15% from $3.2 billion in December 2024 and down more than 35% from November 2025’s $3.72 billion. Russia became the only supplier among India’s top five to record negative growth.
Non-sanctioned suppliers expanded their market presence. Saudi Arabia achieved exceptional growth of 61%, delivering crude worth $1.75 billion in December 2025. The United States posted a 31% increase to $569.30 million. Iraq contributed $2.37 billion, up 4.56%, while the UAE supplied $1.65 billion, reflecting a 6% annual rise.
The decline in sanctioned petroleum purchases appears directly linked to the US imposition of a 25% punitive tariff on Indian goods on August 27, 2025, explicitly designed to deter India from purchasing sanctioned Russian petroleum. This created a complex trade environment where economic benefits of discounted Russian crude were offset by broader trade consequences. Russian crude imports declined from $3.62 billion in July 2025 to $2.71 billion in December 2025.
India’s total crude oil imports from all sources reached $11.29 billion in December 2025, up 9.1% from $10.34 billion in December 2024. Cumulative imports for April-December 2025 totaled $105.10 billion, compared to $109.33 billion in the corresponding period of 2024. The reduction in sanctioned petroleum purchases reflects India’s navigation of complex trade considerations.