India remained the world's second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in May, importing hydrocarbons worth an estimated 5.8 billion euros (USD 6.7 billion), according to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). Refiners stepped up purchases of discounted crude from Moscow, with crude oil accounting for approximately 83% of the total imports at 4.8 billion euros. Oil product imports were valued at 550 million euros, while coal imports stood at 429 million euros.
Increase in Russian Crude Arrivals
India's total crude import volumes saw an 8% month-on-month increase in May, partially driven by a 21% rise in Russian imports, CREA reported. Several major refining hubs recorded higher Russian crude arrivals. For instance, unloaded volumes at the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat increased by 36% compared to April, while deliveries to the Jamnagar refining complex rose by 14%.
State-run refiners also expanded purchases after resuming imports earlier this year. The New Mangalore and Visakhapatnam refineries, which had halted Russian crude imports at the end of November 2025, continued buying Russian oil after restarting purchases in March. Russian crude deliveries to New Mangalore increased by 13% month-on-month in May, while imports at Visakhapatnam jumped by 42%.
The Paradip refinery in Odisha unloaded its highest volume of Russian crude in two years, highlighting the continued appeal of discounted Russian oil for Indian refiners despite geopolitical and sanctions-related pressures.
Russia's Role as a Key Supplier
India emerged as one of the biggest buyers of Russian crude after Western sanctions and trade restrictions following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine reshaped global energy markets. The latest figures indicate that Russian oil continues to occupy a significant share of India's crude import basket, even as New Delhi diversifies supplies from the Middle East, Africa, and the United States.
According to CREA, China remained the largest buyer of Russian crude exports in May, accounting for 50% of shipments, followed by India at 36%. Turkiye accounted for 6%, and the European Union for 5%. In May 2026, China remained the largest global buyer of Russian fossil fuels, accounting for 38% (7.0 billion euros) of Russia's export revenues from the top five importers.
Products Reaching Sanctioned Countries
CREA also noted that despite the European Union's ban on imports of oil products made from Russian crude, several shipments from refineries processing Russian oil continued to reach sanctioning countries. Refineries using Russian crude in India, Turkiye, Brunei, and Georgia exported 641 million euros worth of oil products to sanctioning countries in May 2026. The importers included the EU (174 million euros), Australia (275 million euros), the US (147 million euros), and New Zealand (45 million euros). An estimated 214 million euros of these products were refined from Russian crude.
The report added that exports to the United States originated from Reliance Industries' Jamnagar refinery, Turkiye's STAR refinery, and the Tupras Izmit refinery. In the prior three months, 39% of the STAR refinery's crude oil feedstock and 15% of the Jamnagar refinery's feedstock came from Russia.
