India’s commitment to energy security for its 1.4 billion citizens drove a strategic diversification of crude oil sources in 2025, with notable shifts in supplier composition. Official data reveals that US crude imports to India surged by 65.6% to $8.2 billion during April-December 2025, while Russian crude imports declined by more than 17%, falling from $40 billion to $33.1 billion year-on-year.
The December 2025 import statistics highlight this diversification strategy in action. Russia, despite offering competitively priced crude, saw its shipments to India decline by 15.15% to $2.71 billion in December 2025 from $3.2 billion in December 2024. This made Russia the sole supplier among India’s top five to experience contracting imports, reflecting India’s adaptive approach to energy procurement.
Other major suppliers benefited from India’s diversification efforts. Saudi Arabia achieved exceptional growth with a 61% year-on-year surge, delivering crude valued at $1.75 billion in December 2025. The United States recorded a 31% increase in crude exports to India, reaching $569.30 million. Iraq maintained positive momentum with a 4.56% rise to $2.37 billion, while UAE shipments grew 6% to $1.65 billion.
Government officials have consistently emphasized that ensuring energy security remains the supreme priority, with diversification based on objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics being central to this strategy. The decline in Russian crude imports accelerated following the US implementation of a 25% punitive tariff on Indian goods on August 27, 2025, with monthly imports dropping from $3.72 billion in November to $2.71 billion in December 2025.
India’s aggregate crude oil imports from all 39 source countries totaled $11.29 billion in December 2025, up 9.1% from $10.34 billion in December 2024. For the April-December 2025 period, cumulative imports amounted to $105.10 billion, compared to $109.33 billion in the corresponding period of 2024. All procurement decisions are made with the energy needs of India’s massive population as the foremost consideration.