In February 2025 U.S. crude oil shipments to India achieved their largest volume in more than two years because Indian refiners needed different supply sources after Western sanctions cut off Russian oil transport. Ship tracking data from Kpler shows the United States has elevated its crude oil exports to India up to 357,000 barrels per day (bpd) during February of 2025 compared to 221,000 bpd in the same month of 2024 when India was the world's third-biggest oil importing nation. Western sanctions imposed on Russian oil and tanker operations have created a significant spike in Indian crude imports.
Since October the sanctions have pushed Indian buyers toward changing their source for oil from Russia to America. Approximately 80 percent of the crude oil imported to India consisted of light sweet West Texas Intermediate-Midland which corresponded to the refinery sector's operational requirements. "Indian refiners are trying to diversify their crude supplies, especially light-sweet barrels," said Rohit Rathod, a senior analyst with ship tracking firm Vortexa. " Sanctions on Russian vessels that came in recently only pushed Indian buyers to look elsewhere," he added. Global markets are adjusting to political pressures through a substantial decline in U.S. exports to China which reached 76,000 bpd in this period and represents a five-year low.
U.S. crude exports to India have increased since Western governments imposed limits on Russian petroleum supplies due to low Ukraine-related pricing. South Korea purchased its highest-ever volume of US crude oil at 656,000 bpd during February because the nation implemented a 10% tax on U.S. crude which showed how sanctions modify worldwide oil trade networks. The analysts predict Russia will suffer losing billions of dollars in revenue every month yet sanctions enforcement proves difficult.
India achieves stable oil supplies through the shift which operates against geopolitical risks but encounters higher prices together with logistical adjustments. The U.S. has become a leading oil exporter since 2015 so it fills voids created by Russian oil sanctions. High export levels will continue if experts predict global demand together with more sanction enforcement. The growing imports of U.S. crude oil show a fundamental shift taking place across worldwide oil operations while India faces challenges to protect its energy stability within economic boundaries.
