Year-on-Year Comparison Shows Dramatic Reversal in India’s Russian Crude Trajectory

A year-on-year comparison of India’s crude oil imports reveals a dramatic reversal in Russian supply trends, with December 2025 marking a significant departure from previous patterns. US crude imports to India surged by 65.6% to $8.2 billion during April-December 2025, while Russian crude imports contracted by more than 17%, falling from $40 billion to $33.1 billion in the same period.
The December 2025 versus December 2024 comparison highlights this transformation. Russian crude shipments to India totaled $2.71 billion in December 2025, down 15.15% from $3.2 billion in December 2024. This year-on-year decline contrasts sharply with the growth trends seen in previous periods when Russian crude had been gaining market share in India.
India’s other major suppliers demonstrated strong year-on-year growth. Saudi Arabia led with an exceptional 61% increase, supplying crude valued at $1.75 billion in December 2025. The United States posted a solid 31% gain with shipments totaling $569.30 million. Iraq recorded a 4.56% rise to $2.37 billion, while UAE deliveries grew 6% to $1.65 billion.
The reversal in Russian crude import trends appears linked to shifting geopolitical dynamics. The US imposition of a 25% punitive tariff on Indian goods on August 27, 2025, specifically designed to discourage purchases of sanctioned Russian petroleum, marked a turning point. Monthly import figures show Russian crude declining from $3.62 billion in July 2025 to $2.71 billion in December 2025.
India’s comprehensive crude oil imports from all sources reached $11.29 billion in December 2025, up 9.1% from $10.34 billion in December 2024. For the April-December 2025 period, total imports stood at $105.10 billion, versus $109.33 billion in the equivalent 2024 period. Officials maintain that energy security for the nation’s population remains the foremost consideration in all procurement decisions.