India’s purchases of Russian crude rose to a new high in July, reaching 2.8 million barrels per day and making up more than 55% of the country’s total oil imports. The surge highlights how deeply Indian refiners have leaned on discounted Russian supplies even as Washington has tried to constrain Moscow’s energy revenues through sanctions.
The record buying also points to a wider problem in the global oil market: alternative supply lines have been squeezed. Closures affecting the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab have limited key routes that normally help move crude from other producers, leaving Indian buyers with fewer practical options and increasing the appeal of Russian barrels.
At the same time, Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries have added another layer of disruption to energy flows tied to Russia. Even with that pressure, Russian crude has continued to move in large volumes to India, suggesting that sanctions have not prevented a major customer from expanding purchases when supply security and pricing remain central concerns.
Taken together, the July import data underscores the gap between sanctions policy and actual trade patterns. India’s record Russian oil intake shows that when shipping routes are disrupted and alternative sources become harder to access, buyers may continue turning to available and competitively priced crude despite geopolitical pressure.
