NEW DELHI: India’s buy of crude from Russia rose 90% in March in contrast with Feb, at the same time as total imports declined practically 15% as a result of disruption of vitality provides from West Asia.The disruption within the Strait of Hormuz, a key vitality chokepoint, additionally led to a 40% fall in India’s petroleum fuel (LPG) imports and a decline in pure fuel (LNG) shipments in March, forcing New Delhi to scout for alternate sources (see graphic).
India altering vitality map
After subdued purchases in Dec 2025 and Jan-Feb 2026, imports from Russia surged following a 30-day waiver introduced by the US that allowed purchases of sanctioned oil already at sea. Imports from African international locations similar to Angola, Gabon, Ghana and Congo additionally rose, although their total contribution to the oil basket remained small. “Center Japanese producers are partially rerouting provides through pipelines that bypass Hormuz — notably Saudi Arabia’s East-West (Yanbu) pipeline and the UAE’s Habshan-Fujairah pipeline. These flows have offered incremental aid, permitting India to proceed sourcing some volumes from the area regardless of maritime constraints,” mentioned Sumit Ritoia, lead analyst at international information analytics agency Kpler.He added that the acquisition of Russian oil is predicted to proceed into April, whereas there may be additionally potential for the acquisition of Iranian barrels. “India can be anticipated to begin receiving Venezuelan barrels from April onwards which might assist mitigate a number of the crude provide threat.”India’s liquefied pure fuel (LNG) provides from Qatar fell sharply by 92% in comparison with Feb because of a drive majeure declared by QatarEnergy, which has long-term contracts with New Delhi, in addition to disruption in Hormuz. The shortfall was partly offset by a surge in imports from the US, Oman, Angola and Nigeria.The sharp fall in LPG imports was marginally offset by ramping up home manufacturing and limiting provides to business and industrial customers, to make sure availability of cooking fuel for the big buyer base of over 33.2 crore.