Saudi Oil Imports to India Hit Multi-Year High

India’s crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia have surged to their highest level in over four years, temporarily overtaking Russia as the country’s top supplier in February.

According to data from energy analytics firm Kpler, Saudi crude shipments touched nearly 1–1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) this month. On February 20, imports reportedly peaked at around 1.3 million bpd, surpassing Russian supplies of about 1.1 million bpd on that day.

Shift in Import Pattern

Over the past two years, Russia has consistently remained India’s largest crude supplier, followed by Iraq and the UAE, with Saudi Arabia typically occupying the third or fourth position.

The recent spike has significantly narrowed the gap between Riyadh and Moscow. The gap had widened after India increased purchases of discounted Russian oil following the Ukraine conflict.

The new figures also come at a time when the United States has been urging India to reduce its reliance on Russian crude.

February Trend and Outlook

Sumit Ritolia, lead research analyst at Kpler, said the surge may moderate in the coming weeks as some cargoes could shift into early March.

“Our predictive flows model indicates Saudi imports averaging closer to 1–1.1 million bpd in February, still a multi-year high,” he said.

Russian crude imports are expected to remain in the 1–1.2 million bpd range in February but could decline to 0.8–1 million bpd next month.

Ritolia noted that Russia’s share in India’s crude mix may stabilise at a lower range in 2026 compared to 2024 and 2025, citing growing commercial and policy pressures.

Refinery Maintenance Impact

Further decline in Russian imports may occur in April, when Nayara Energy’s Vadinar refinery is scheduled for maintenance during April-May. The refinery has been heavily dependent on Russian crude following European Union sanctions.

Any disruption in refinery operations could temporarily affect sourcing patterns and shift demand toward alternative suppliers, including West Asian producers.

Bigger Energy Picture

India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, sources crude from multiple regions to manage supply security and pricing risks.

The latest surge in Saudi imports reflects India’s flexible sourcing strategy amid geopolitical tensions, global price volatility and evolving trade dynamics.

While Russia remains a major supplier, February’s data suggests a recalibration in India’s crude basket — at least in the short term.