Stories
US Tariff Threat: Will India Reduce Russian Oil Imports Amid Rising Tensions?
- •Indian oil companies may consider reducing Russian crude oil purchases due to US tariff threats, but are currently monitoring US actions.
- •India's priority remains energy security, aiming to diversify oil sources to avoid over-reliance on any single supplier.
- •Indian refiners have crude stocked until October, indicating no immediate halt to Russian oil purchases, while assessing US law implementation.
- •A new US law signed by President Trump on September 18 allows for tariffs of up to 100% on goods from countries buying Russian oil.
- •Russian oil imports to India decreased in September to 1.8 million barrels per day from 2.1 million in August, with increased purchases from West Asia.
Key Questions Answered
Indian oil companies may consider reducing Russian oil purchases to some extent due to the threat of US tariffs, but for now, they are in a wait-and-watch mode. India's main priority remains energy security, and since refiners have already stocked crude until October, there is no immediate possibility of stopping imports entirely.
On September 18, 2026, US President Donald Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. This legislation grants the US President the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from countries that continue to purchase Russian oil and natural gas, creating a 30-day window for potential enforcement actions.
According to Kpler data, India imported about 1.8 million barrels of crude per day from Russia in September, down from about 2.1 million barrels per day in August. This indicates a slight decrease in Russia's share as India concurrently increases its crude purchases from West Asia.
