India Shifts Oil Sourcing Post

India Diversifies Oil Imports Amid Middle East Disruptions

Indian refiners increased oil imports from Latin America and Africa in April and May 2026, following disruptions to Middle Eastern supplies caused by the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which restricted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This strategic shift by the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer aims to mitigate supply vulnerabilities.

Data from Kpler indicates that India raised imports from Venezuela, Brazil, Angola, and Nigeria during this period. While Russia remained India's top supplier, its share declined to approximately 35% from nearly 50% in March, with imports from Russia totaling 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, a 29.4% reduction from March. However, May projections show Russian oil imports rebounding to about 1.9 million bpd. India also resumed Iranian oil imports in April after a seven-year hiatus, facilitated by a temporary U.S. waiver.

Overall, India's oil imports in April remained stable at 4.57 million bpd compared to March, but represented a 15.5% decrease year-on-year. Imports from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) significantly rebounded to 669,700 bpd in April from 230,600 bpd in March, while Saudi Arabian imports held steady at approximately 619,500 bpd. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are the only Gulf producers with pipelines bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. The share of OPEC members in India's imports rose to 45.2% in April from about 30% in March, partly due to increased UAE imports, which helped offset the decline in Middle Eastern supply.