Countries that buy Russian oil from the US have received relief from sanctions and tariffs. Nevertheless, India can continue importing Russian oil due to its discounts and availability.

India's big decision on oil imports from Russia

Despite US President Donald Trump 's proposed sanctions and tariff waivers on countries buying Russian oil, India remains unwilling to significantly alter its current strategy. This means that despite Trump's waivers, India may continue to import large quantities of crude oil from Russia at current levels. This is primarily due to the discounts and availability of Russian oil.

In fact, Trump issued an executive order late Friday night, waiving some of the sanctions, restrictions, and tariffs proposed under a new US law related to Russia and Iran. This decision came just a day before the expiration of the 30-day deadline set by the law. This law had imposed tariffs of up to 100% on goods coming from the five largest buyers of crude oil and gas from Russia. However, this exemption is not limited to India; other countries like China could also benefit from it.

How much oil is India buying from Russia?

India is one of the largest importers of Russian crude oil by sea. According to data from shipping agencies, India purchased approximately 1.82 million barrels per day from Russia in September 2026, while China's imports were approximately 1.49 million barrels per day. India's imports are estimated to be 1.8 to 1.9 million barrels per day in October.

However, Russian oil purchases have declined slightly compared to June and July. India's imports had risen to approximately 2.6 million barrels per day in June and to approximately 2.57 million barrels per day in July.

Why is Russian crude oil beneficial for India?

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Western countries imposed numerous sanctions on Russian oil. Consequently, Russia began selling oil to Asian countries at lower prices. India seized this opportunity and increased its purchases of Russian oil.

Buying oil from Russia allows India to avoid being completely dependent on West Asia and other oil-producing countries. Furthermore, cheap oil helps Indian refineries keep costs low.