Kpler chief analyst Sumit Ritolia says India imported >2.6 mln bpd of Russian
oil in June–July, versus about 1.0 mln bpd in February, making Russian barrels
more than half of India’s crude imports. Tight Gulf supplies and reduced flows
through the Strait of Hormuz amid a still‑unresolved Washington‑Tehran standoff
have pushed New Delhi back toward Russian crude; the US granted partial waivers
approved by Trump allowing India to continue purchases. Disruptions to Middle
East gas supplies have also shifted India and other Asian buyers toward
coal‑fired power — India’s annual coal output has risen roughly 70% since March
2015 to about 1.04 bln tons.
