April 2026,Russia's share of India's oil imports shot up to nearly 38%,an 11-month peak . Crisis in West Asia has pushed India to lean heavily on Russian oil. About 67 lakh tonnes of crude came from Russia, making up 34.3% of India's total oil imports that month.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry data shows India's oil imports bounced back to 195.3 lakh tonnes in April. That's a 23% jump from March. But rising oil prices sent the total import bill soaring 61.3%,hitting $15.4 billion over the previous month.
With India's growing dependence on Russian oil,came a shift in pricing. Russia's oil premium rocketed by 425% in April,reaching $864.9 per tonne. Contrast this with $787.1 per tonne average from all countries . In March,India paid just $14.8 more per tonne for Russian oil .
The value of oil imports from Russia hit $5.8 billion,making up 37.7% of India's oil spending for the month. Meanwhile,oil from U.S . dropped to multi-month lows,only 2.9% of total bill and 3.8% by value.
Even with a 4.3% drop in crude volume compared to last year,high prices kept India's import costs high. Rising oil prices have reshaped India's import strategy, making Russian oil a costly yet key part of its energy plan.
This growing Russia-India oil link raises questions about global stability,especially as pressure mounts on PM Modi to rethink Moscow ties. Geopolitical shifts are ongoing…India's energy choices now tied to bigger international dynamics.
