India’s crude imports surged 11 percent in May to 5 million barrels per day.

India’s crude imports surged 11 percent in May to 5 million barrels per day, as world’s third-largest consumer ramped up purchases from Russia and Venezuela, data from commodity analytics firm Kpler shows. The intake is on track to be the highest volume ever for May, marking a sharp increase from April’s 4.5 million bpd. “India’s crude imports in May have also remained strong. While the 2025 average stood around 4.8 million bpd, May imports are currently tracking near 5 mbd, potentially the highest monthly import in May ever, supported primarily by stronger Russian and Venezuelan crude imports,” said Sumit Ritolia, lead analyst for refining and supply at Kpler. The country increased its purchases of Russian barrels by 23 percent to 1.9 million bpd against 1.57 million bpd in April. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the second-largest supplier with 540,000 barrels per day followed by Saudi Arabia at 398,000 bpd. The imports from the UAE, however, were 4 percent lower from April and while arrivals from Saudi Arabia plunged 41 percent due to continuous blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. “Lower Chinese crude demand freed additional Middle Eastern, Russian, African, and Atlantic Basin barrels into the broader Asian market. This helped refiners across South Korea, Southeast Asia and India secure more crude supply than initially expected, preventing an even deeper refining squeeze across the region,” Ritolia said. While Russia remained the largest oil supplier, the country also increased its purchases from Venezuela, the US, Oman, Brazil and Angola to diversify sourcing amid disruptions in supplies from war-hit West Asia. Venezuela was the fourth-largest oil supplier with 303,000 bpd. Oil imports from Brazil increased by 5.3 percent to 290,000 bpd and that from the US rose by 107 percent to 209,000 bpd. "Venezuelan crude oil has always remained attractive to Indian refiners and is suitable for complex refineries. It remains far from disruptions caused in the Middle East and also does not face any sanctions now," said an analyst who did not wish to be identified. It is a heavier crude grade and apart from India and a handful of other countries, not many refineries are able to process it. Venezuelan imports are likely to remain in this range until there is a decline in production, the analyst said. Kpler said a recovery in Chinese crude buying could quickly tighten Asian balances again as Strait of Hormuz disruptions remain unresolved.

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