India remained the world’s second-largest importer of Russian fossil fuels in May, with purchases estimated at around 5.8 billion euros (approximately USD 6.7 billion), according to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). The report highlights that despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and sanctions pressure, India continued to source significant volumes of discounted crude oil and other energy products from Russia, reinforcing its position as a key buyer in global energy trade.

Crude oil formed the dominant share of India’s imports from Russia, accounting for nearly 83 per cent of total purchases, valued at around 4.8 billion euros. The remainder included oil products worth approximately 550 million euros and coal imports valued at about 429 million euros. CREA noted that India’s overall crude import volumes rose by 8 per cent month-on-month in May, driven in part by a 21 per cent increase in Russian crude inflows.

Refining activity across major Indian hubs reflected this rise in imports. At the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat, Russian crude unloading increased by 36 per cent compared to April levels, while the Jamnagar refining complex recorded a 14 per cent rise in deliveries. State-run refineries also expanded procurement after resuming Russian crude purchases earlier in the year, contributing to higher intake levels across key processing facilities.

Also Read: Russian Strikes Kill Three Across Multiple Regions In Ukraine

The report further stated that the New Mangalore and Visakhapatnam refineries, which had paused Russian crude imports at the end of November 2025, resumed purchases in March and continued importing through May. New Mangalore saw a 13 per cent monthly increase in Russian crude intake, while Visakhapatnam registered a sharper rise of 42 per cent. The Paradip refinery in Odisha also recorded its highest Russian crude volumes in two years, indicating sustained demand for cost-competitive supplies.

CREA data showed that China remained the largest importer of Russian crude in May, accounting for 50 per cent of exports, followed by India at 36 per cent, Turkiye at 6 per cent, and the European Union at 5 per cent. The report also highlighted that Chinese imports included a broader mix of crude oil, pipeline gas, coal, LNG, and oil products, reflecting its diversified energy procurement pattern from Russia.

The report additionally pointed to continued indirect flows of Russian-linked refined products into sanctioning markets despite restrictions. It noted that refineries in countries such as India, Turkiye, Brunei and Georgia exported about 641 million euros worth of oil products to sanctioning countries in May 2026, including the EU, Australia, the United States and New Zealand. CREA added that a portion of these exports was refined from Russian crude, underscoring the complexity of global energy supply chains amid ongoing sanctions regimes.

Also Read: Ukraine Air Force Reports Large-Scale Russian Drone And Missile Attack On Kyiv