India has sharply increased its crude oil imports from the United States and Brazil in the first half of 2025, marking a strategic deepening of ties with non-OPEC suppliers amid heightened global volatility and supply risk recalibrations.
According to new data from S&P Global Commodity Insights cited by Indian media outlets, US crude shipments to India rose 51% year-on-year to 271,000 barrels per day between January and June, up from 180,000 bpd a year earlier. Imports from Brazil surged 80% to 73,000 bpd, compared to 41,000 bpd during the same period in 2024. These were the highest growth rates across India’s import portfolio, underscoring a decisive pivot toward Western Hemisphere barrels.
The increase follows multiple converging developments. India’s state-run refiners have sought to insulate procurement from OPEC+ volatility and disruptions in the Middle East. Reduced Chinese liftings of US crude opened spot-market opportunities, while freight rates from the Atlantic Basin fell, improving arbitrage economics. Diplomatic engagement also played a role. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri met with Brazilian energy officials earlier this year, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Washington visit in April included energy cooperation as a key agenda item.
Russia retained its top position with 1.67 million bpd in H1 2025, though growth plateaued. Iraqi and Saudi volumes declined marginally, while Nigerian shipments rose 26% to 158,000 bpd.
India doubled US crude liftings in Q1 partly as a signal to US policymakers amid trade pressures. Broader tariff negotiations are still underway. A temporary 90-day suspension on select US-India duties enacted in April is set to expire in August, and energy trade is now a central bargaining chip as talks enter a sensitive phase.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
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