India has dramatically ramped up its crude oil imports from the United States since President Donald Trump began his second term, news agency ANI reported on August 3 citing sources familiar with the trade data.
This shift reflects a substantial change in India’s energy procurement strategy. As India continues to enhance its energy cooperation with the US, the recent data showed the energy sector emerging as a vital component of this evolving partnership, potentially paving the way for a more secure and diversified energy future for India.
From January to June 25, 2025, India’s imports of US crude averaged 0.271 million barrels per day (mb/d), a remarkable 51 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024 when imports stood at 0.18 mb/d.
Notably, the growth has been even more pronounced in the last quarter, with the April to June period showing a staggering 114 per cent rise over the same months in 2024.
The financial implications of this surge are equally striking; the value of these imports has soared from $1.73 billion in the first quarter of 2024-25 to $3.7 billion in the corresponding period for 2025-26.
The upward trend appears to be ongoing. In July 2025, India imported 23 per cent more crude oil from the US compared to June 2025. While the US share of India’s overall crude imports was only 3 per cent last year, it climbed to 8 per cent in July of this year.
Predictions suggest that Indian companies are set to increase crude oil imports from the US by an impressive 150 per cent in the current financial year.
This increase is not limited to crude oil. India is also importing more liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US. For instance, LNG imports reached $2.46 billion in the 2024-25 financial year, nearly doubling from $1.41 billion the previous year.
Discussions for a long-term LNG contract worth tens of billions of dollars are reportedly underway, indicating that this trend of increased energy trade is just beginning.
The growing energy trade coincides with a renewed optimism in the bilateral relationship between India and the US. India’s foreign ministry has expressed confidence that ties between the two nations will continue to strengthen, despite global uncertainties.
Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted the enduring nature of the partnership, which is built on shared interests and democratic values.>
