India’s Russian oil imports dropped by nearly a third after new US sanctions took effect on November 21, prompting refiners to cut purchases from designated companies. Analysts expect December arrivals to fall further as India turns to alternative suppliers and opaque trade routes
India will scale down direct Russian crude imports from late November as US sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil take effect. Reliance, MRPL, and HPCL-Mittal have halted purchases, triggering a sharp decline in December arrivals, with gradual recovery expected via intermediaries
Reliance Industries said it will comply with all applicable sanctions and recalibrate its refinery operations after the US imposed fresh restrictions on Russian oil majors Rosneft and Lukoil. The company said it is assessing the impact on its long-term crude supply deals
US sanctions on Russia's Rosneft and Lukoil may impact Reliance Industries’ direct oil imports. State-owned refiners are likely to continue buying through intermediary traders. EU restrictions on fuel exports will further affect Indian firms, prompting recalibration from January 2026
Rosneft owns 49.13 per cent stake in Nayara Energy Ltd, formerly Essar Oil Ltd. EU sanctions means Nayara cannot export fuel such as petrol and diesel to European countries
