Overview

• Russian crude arrivals to India fell 8.4% year on year in April–September to about 1.75 million bpd, with September near 1.6 million bpd, down roughly 14% from a year earlier.
• Russia remained India’s largest supplier in September at about 34% of inflows, as total crude imports exceeded 4.5 million bpd, according to Kpler.
• The Middle East’s share rose to roughly 45%, lifting OPEC’s contribution to around 49% of India’s September crude imports.
• Narrower discounts on Russian barrels — estimated at about $2 per barrel — and tighter availability shifted refinery economics and buying patterns.
• Private refiners increased Russian intake while state-run companies cut purchases, and U.S. crude shipments to India rose 6.8% to about 213,000 bpd during April–September alongside reported trade pressure from Washington.