Indian refiners have increased crude oil imports from Latin America and Africa after disruptions in Middle East supplies caused by the Israeli-US conflict with Iran and restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, according to trade and shipping data.
India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, traditionally sourced most of its crude from the Middle East. However, refiners raised purchases from countries such as Venezuela, Brazil, Angola, and Nigeria in April and May to offset supply shortages.
Russian Oil Remains Key Despite Temporary Decline
India also continued importing discounted Russian crude, although shipments fell nearly 29.4% in March after Nayara Energy shut its 400,000 barrels-per-day refinery for maintenance. Preliminary Kpler data indicates Russian imports are expected to recover to around 1.9 million barrels per day in May.
Meanwhile, India resumed limited imports of Iranian oil after a seven-year gap under a temporary waiver granted by Washington to stabilise global oil markets. Iraq exports were halted during the disruption period, forcing refiners to seek alternate supply routes.
UAE and Saudi Arabia Help Stabilise Supplies
Imports from the United Arab Emirates rebounded sharply to around 669,700 barrels per day in April from 230,600 barrels per day in March, while imports from Saudi Arabia remained stable at nearly 619,500 barrels per day.
Unlike several Gulf producers, the UAE and Saudi Arabia operate export pipelines bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, helping maintain uninterrupted crude supplies.
Russia remained India’s largest crude supplier, followed by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, while Brazil and Venezuela emerged among the top five suppliers. Venezuela is also expected to become India’s fourth-largest oil supplier in May.
Energy Security Becomes Central Focus
The disruption has pushed India to aggressively diversify energy sourcing and strengthen supply resilience. Government officials recently said India has secured nearly 60 days of crude supply through diversified imports and strategic reserves.
The situation has also increased pressure on fuel prices and LPG availability, prompting refiners to maximise domestic production and explore alternative sourcing routes from Africa, Latin America, Russia, and the United States.