India’s imports of Russian crude oil surged to 2.8 million barrels per day (bpd) in July, marking the highest monthly volume since 2022.
According to vessel-tracking data from Kpler, cited by TASS, the influx accounted for more than half of India’s total crude purchases for the month, underscoring the deepening reliance on Moscow’s energy exports.
The figure represents a continuation of the trend seen in June, when imports hit an all-time high, driven by sustained discounts on Urals and other Russian grades relative to Brent.
The data highlights the resilience of the India-Russia energy trade corridor, which has become a critical outlet for Russian oil amid Western sanctions.
While Russia’s overall export revenues have faced pressure, the volume shipped to India has remained robust, supported by New Delhi’s strategy to secure affordable feedstock for its refineries.
This dynamic has effectively insulated Russian producers from some of the intended price caps, allowing them to maintain market share in Asia.
For global markets, the sustained high volumes from Russia to India contribute to a complex supply landscape.
While the influx of discounted crude helps keep global benchmarks like Brent and WTI from spiking, it also reinforces the bifurcation of the oil market into sanctioned and non-sanctioned streams.