Russian crude accounted for 83% of India’s fossil fuel imports from Russia, according to CREA.
Key Highlights
- India imported Russian fossil fuels worth €5.5 billion in June 2026, according to CREA.
- Russian crude oil accounted for €4.5 billion, or 83% of India’s total imports from Russia.
- India remained Russia’s second-largest fossil fuel buyer after China.
- Russian crude deliveries to Reliance’s Jamnagar refinery rose 150% from May, while IOC’s Paradip refinery imports increased 126%.
- India’s purchases helped raise Russia’s crude export volumes by 14% despite lower global oil prices.
New Delhi: India remained the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in June 2026, importing hydrocarbons worth €5.5 billion, according to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
The report said crude oil accounted for €4.5 billion, representing 83% of India’s total Russian fossil fuel imports during the month. Oil products worth €488 million and coal worth €444 million made up the remaining imports.
India’s purchases increased as the country’s overall crude oil imports rose 5.4% month-on-month, with several major refineries significantly increasing their intake of Russian crude.
According to CREA, deliveries to Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery surged 150% compared with May, while imports at Indian Oil Corporation’s Paradip refinery increased 126%. BPCL’s Kochi refinery and Nayara Energy’s Vadinar refinery also recorded increases of 83% and 45%, respectively.
The higher demand from India contributed to a 14% increase in Russia’s crude export volumes during June. However, Russia’s crude oil export revenues declined 8% month-on-month to €348 million per day due to lower international oil prices. Overall Russian fossil fuel export revenues slipped 1% to €734 million per day, despite higher export volumes.
CREA also noted that India continued to play an important role in the global trade of refined petroleum products produced from Russian crude. Refineries in India, Türkiye, Brunei and Georgia exported oil products worth €814 million to countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia, with an estimated €369 million of those exports refined from Russian crude.
The report further stated that two shipments of refined products produced from Russian crude at Indian refineries were unloaded at European Union ports in June. It also highlighted that the United Kingdom received its first shipment of jet fuel from Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery following regulatory exemptions allowing imports of fuels refined from Russian crude.
China remained Russia’s largest fossil fuel customer during June with imports worth €7.3 billion, while India ranked second at €5.5 billion.
