India’s imports of Russian oil increased in May as refiners stepped up purchases of discounted crude, data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air showed.
India remained the world’s second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in May. It imported an estimated €5.8 billion, or $6.7 billion, worth of Russian hydrocarbons. Crude oil accounted for about 83% of the total at €4.8 billion. Oil products were valued at €550 million and coal at €429 million.
CREA said India’s total crude import volumes rose 8% month-on-month in May. This was partly explained by a 21% month-on-month increase in Russian imports. For comparison, China remained the largest buyer of Russian energy with purchases worth nearly €7 billion.
Several Indian refineries recorded higher inflows of Russian crude. Unloaded volumes at the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat rose 36% from April levels. Deliveries to the Jamnagar refining complex in the state increased 14%.
State-run refiners also expanded purchases after resuming imports earlier this year. The New Mangalore and Visakhapatnam refineries had halted Russian crude imports at the end of November 2025. They restarted purchases in March and continued in May. Russian crude deliveries to New Mangalore rose 13% month-on-month, while imports at Visakhapatnam jumped 42%.
The Paradip refinery on Odisha’s east coast unloaded its highest volume of Russian crude in two years. CREA said this underscores the continued attractiveness of discounted Russian barrels for Indian refiners despite geopolitical and sanctions-related pressures.
