India's Russian crude imports hit a record 2.8 million barrels per day in July, 55.5% of its total intake

According to Kpler vessel tracking data cited by the Times of India on Monday 3 August 2026, India's crude oil imports from Russia rose to 2.8 million barrels per day in July 2026, up from the previous high of 2.7 million bpd in June and the highest average monthly volume ever recorded. Total Indian crude imports edged up from June to stand at just over 5 million bpd in July, putting Russia's share of India's overall crude imports at 55.5%.

Indian refiners have continued to rely on Russian volumes amid threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and, more recently, at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. Alongside the record Russian volumes, Indian refiners also boosted imports from Saudi Arabia and Iraq, as millions of barrels made it out of the Persian Gulf during the mid June to mid July window in which the Strait of Hormuz was tentatively open to tanker traffic. India also imported crude from Kuwait for the first time since March.

The United Arab Emirates remained India's second largest crude supplier behind Russia, as it raises production and shipments of crude loaded on tankers outside the Strait of Hormuz. India maintained high levels of Russian imports in July even after the end of the US waiver the previous month: Washington quietly let the waiver allowing purchases of Russian oil loaded on tankers expire on 17 June, as the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to continue negotiations on a deal.