Crude oil accounted for about 83% of India’s imports from Russia through the month, valued at 4.8 billion euros, whereas oil merchandise and coal imports stood at 550 million euros and 429 million euros, respectively.
”India’s complete crude import volumes recorded an 8% month-on-month improve in May. That is partially defined by a 21% month-on-month improve in Russian imports,” CREA mentioned.
A few of India’s largest refining hubs recorded notable will increase in Russian crude arrivals. Unloaded volumes on the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat rose 36% from April ranges, whereas deliveries to the Jamnagar refining complicated in the state elevated 14%.
In accordance with CREA, state-run refiners additionally expanded purchases after resuming imports earlier this 12 months. The New Mangalore and Visakhapatnam refineries, which had halted Russian crude imports on the finish of November 2025, continued shopping for Russian oil after restarting purchases in March.
Russian crude deliveries to New Mangalore rose 13% month-on-month in May, whereas imports at Visakhapatnam jumped 42%, it mentioned.
The Paradip refinery on Odisha’s east coast additionally unloaded its highest quantity of Russian crude in two years, underscoring the continued attractiveness of discounted Russian barrels for Indian refiners regardless of evolving geopolitical and sanctions-associated pressures.
India emerged as one of many largest patrons of Russian oil since Western sanctions and commerce restrictions reshaped international power flows following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Indian refiners have persistently elevated purchases of discounted Russian crude, serving to offset greater power prices whereas boosting refining margins and exports of petroleum merchandise.
The most recent figures counsel Russian oil continues to account for a major share of India’s crude import basket, even as the nation diversifies provides from the Center East, Africa and the US.
In accordance with CREA, China purchased 50% of Russia’s crude exports in May, adopted by India (36%), Turkiye (6%), and the EU (5%).
”In May 2026, China remained the biggest international purchaser of Russian fossil fuels, accounting for 38% (Euro 7.0 billion) of Russia’s export revenues from the highest 5 importers. Crude oil made up 69% (Euro 4.8 bn) of China’s purchases, adopted by pipeline fuel (Euro 618 million), then coal (Euro 525 million), and lastly LNG (Euro 510 million). Oil merchandise (Euro 479 million) constituted the rest of China’s imports,” it mentioned.
CREA mentioned regardless of the EU’s ban on imports of oil merchandise comprised of Russian crude on January 21, 2026, 10 shipments of oil merchandise from refineries utilizing Russian crude have been unloaded at EU ports in the month of May.
”Refineries utilizing Russian crude in India, Turkiye, Brunei, and Georgia exported Euro 641 million of oil merchandise to sanctioning nations in May 2026. The importers included the EU (Euro 174 million), Australia (Euro 275 million), the US ($147 million) and New Zealand (Euro 45 million). An estimated Euro 214 million of those merchandise have been refined from Russian crude,” it mentioned.
Exports to the US originated at Reliance Industries Ltd’s Jamnagar refinery, the SOCAR-owned STAR refinery in Turkiye, and the Tupras Izmit refinery as effectively. ”Within the prior three months, 39% of the STAR refinery’s crude oil feedstock and 15% of the Jamnagar refinery’s feedstock got here from Russia,” it added.
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