Russia’s share of India’s crude oil imports has climbed to an all-time high of 48% in June 2026, highlighting how strongly Indian refiners continue to rely on Russian supplies despite growing pressure from the United States.
The record share comes at a time when the US is threatening tariffs of up to 100% on countries that continue buying Russian oil, putting India’s energy purchases under increasing geopolitical scrutiny.
Nearly Half Of India’s Oil Now Comes From Russia
The latest figure means that almost one out of every two barrels of crude oil imported by India came from Russia in June.
The increase is particularly notable because it has happened despite the escalating tariff threat from Washington. Rather than reducing its dependence on Russian crude, India’s share of Russian oil imports has reached its highest level yet.
The development underlines the importance of Russian supplies in India’s overall crude import strategy.
US Tariff Threat Adds Pressure
The record Russian share comes as the United States moves towards stronger measures against countries purchasing Russian energy.
The US has threatened tariffs of up to 100%, raising concerns about the possible impact on countries such as India that remain major buyers of Russian crude.
The threat creates a difficult balancing act for India, which has to weigh its energy requirements and import costs against the potential economic consequences of higher US tariffs.
India Continues To Increase Russian Oil Purchases
Despite the pressure, Indian refiners have continued buying Russian crude. The latest 48% figure shows that Russian oil remains a major component of India’s import basket.
The increase also comes at a time when global energy markets continue to face uncertainty, making access to reliable crude supplies an important consideration for one of the world’s largest oil-importing economies.
For Indian refiners, the availability of Russian crude has therefore remained an important part of their purchasing strategy.
Energy Security At The Centre Of The Issue
India’s dependence on imported crude means changes in international oil supplies can have a direct impact on the country’s energy security and economy.
The record Russian share demonstrates the scale of the relationship between Indian refiners and Russian oil suppliers. Any major disruption to these supplies, whether because of sanctions, tariffs or geopolitical developments, could therefore have wider implications for India’s oil procurement strategy.
Record Russian Share Raises Bigger Questions
The 48% figure is significant not just because it represents an all-time high, but because it has been reached despite the possibility of severe US trade penalties.
India now faces a situation where almost half of its imported crude is sourced from Russia while Washington is considering measures that could impose tariffs of up to 100%.
The coming months will therefore be closely watched to see whether India maintains this level of Russian oil purchases or begins changing its import mix in response to the growing US pressure.
Summary
Russia accounted for a record 48% of India’s crude oil imports in June 2026, the highest share ever recorded. The increase comes despite the United States threatening tariffs of up to 100% on countries continuing to buy Russian oil. The latest figure shows that Russian crude remains central to India’s oil import strategy even as pressure grows over the country’s continued purchases.
