Russian crude oil imports by India were largely stable in October 2025, with cargoes growing almost 2.53 per cent M-o-M to around 1.62 million barrels per day (mb/d), as refiners maintained the momentum in line with rising domestic demand.

In September, the Russian crude oil imports were at 1.58 mb/d, according to global real time data and analytics firm Kpler.

The sustained flows from Moscow are also aiding Indian refiners in monetising the limited window of opportunity to sell diesel to the European Union (EU) before its January 21, 2026 deadline under latest sanctions comes into effect.

Even as Russian shipments fell by 8 per cent on an annual basis, analysts, refiners and traders indicated that the development is more about diversification rather than enforcement.

However, they sa

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