New Delhi/Singapore: Defying pressure from Washington, Indian state-owned refiners are preparing to fully revive Russian crude oil purchases, even as Donald Trump’s administration continues to push New Delhi to cut energy ties with Moscow.

According to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, India’s seaborne crude imports from Russia dropped to 1.3 million barrels per day in August from nearly 1.97 million barrels per day in March, while China increased its intake of Russian oil.

India’s Position on Russian Oil

Officials and industry executives made it clear at the APPEC conference in Singapore that India has not stopped importing Russian oil, only reduced volumes due to cargo availability.

“Depending upon the economics, we continue to buy,” said Anuj Jain, Director of Finance at Indian Oil Corp., noting that Russian crude is currently available at a $2–$3 per barrel discount to the Dubai benchmark.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reiterated last week that India would continue purchasing Russian crude, reaffirming the government’s stance against external pressure. Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had earlier defended India’s imports through a strongly worded opinion piece, stressing energy affordability as a national priority.

Challenges with Cargo Supply

Sources revealed that Indian refiners face difficulties due to limited Russian cargo offers for October shipments, with Moscow redirecting more volumes to China. Rising competition from Middle Eastern suppliers under the OPEC+ output relaxation plan is also reshaping global oil flows.

Energy expert Fereidun Fesharaki suggested that India’s imports from Russia may fall by 250,000 barrels per day next month, signaling that the peak buying phase could be over.

Global Pressure and Market Dynamics

The Trump administration has been seeking to curb Moscow’s revenues by imposing punitive tariffs on Indian imports and threatening secondary sanctions. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that more coordinated Western restrictions could follow.

Despite these moves, New Delhi continues to resist what it sees as interference in its energy policy. Officials argue that India’s energy security and affordability cannot be compromised, especially when Europe and the US still source critical energy supplies from Russia.