US EditionIndian refiners need wind-down period for Russian oil halt: Report
Indian refiners need months to reduce Russian oil imports due to existing contracts and logistical constraints, with OPEC supplies reaching 65% of imports in December 2025.
- On February 3, 2026, Indian refiners asked authorities for guidance, with at least three seeking clarity and two halting Russian oil purchases amid pre-booked cargoes loading in February arriving in March.
- The U.S.-India trade pact linked tariff relief to crude sourcing, cutting U.S. tariffs from 50% to 18%, while U.S. sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil pushed refiners to review contracts recently.
- Reliance Industries' Jamnagar complex illustrates that standard booking windows and voyage durations mean cargoes booked in February arrive in March, limiting rapid crude shifts.
- Moody's warned today that an immediate suspension of Russian imports would disrupt global oil markets, while OPEC reached 65% of Indian imports in December 2025, reshaping shipping patterns.
- Given the sector's 87% import dependence, refiners plan $1.5B port upgrades and $800M pipeline work, with rebalancing implying $1-$3 per barrel differentials over a multi-year transition.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Indian refiners seek policy clarity after US signals halt to Russian oil purchases
Indian refiners are looking for direction from the government on future purchases of Russian crude after US President Donald Trump said that New Delhi would halt sourcing oil from Russia as part of efforts to secure lower US trade tariffs.
Will India Halt Russian Oil Imports Under India-US Trade Deal? Top Foreign Policy Expert Lisa Curtis Explains
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. The Indian government has not confirmed if it is stopping Russian Oil Purchase. A joint statement on the exact tenets of the deal is awaited. World News | Will India Halt Russian Oil Imports Under India-US Trade Deal? Top Foreign Policy Expert Lisa Curtis Explains.
India to restrict Russian oil buy, import only where supplies are irreplaceable: Sources
India will reduce its purchases of Russian crude oil. This is part of a new trade agreement with the United States. The deal lowers tariffs on Indian goods entering the US. In return, India will buy more US energy and other products. Refiners will continue current Russian oil imports but will not place new orders.
Donald Trump announced a trade agreement with the Indian Prime Minister that included a suspension of oil purchases from Russia, but without details on how and when those purchases would end.
India’s Russian Oil Dilemma Threatens to Shake Global Markets
The immediate suspension of crude oil imports from Russia on the part of India would present a major disruption for global oil markets, Moody’s warned today, following the announcement of a trade deal between New Delhi and Washington. “Even though India has reduced its purchase of crude oil from Russia in recent months, it is unlikely to cease all purchases immediately which could be disruptive to India’s economic growth,” the ratings agency sai…
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