India has faced no pressure from the US to reduce its imports of Russian crude oil, Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, according to Reuters.

This comes as refiners increasingly weigh the relative prices of Russian and Middle Eastern supplies when making purchasing decisions.

Speaking at an industry event, Puri said India’s purchases of Russian oil had increased significantly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when discounted crude made Russian supplies more attractive to Indian refiners. Before the war, Russia accounted for just 0.2% of India’s oil imports, he said.

Puri added that imports of Middle Eastern crude had risen as Gulf producers increased shipments, while Indian refiners reduced their purchases of Russian oil amid stronger competition from China and more competitive pricing for Gulf grades.

“Whatever people say or do, ultimately it is anchored in their self-interest,” Puri said, emphasizing that commercial considerations remain central to refiners’ sourcing decisions.

India is also expanding its refining capacity to meet domestic fuel demand and maintain its commitments to export refined petroleum products, Puri said.

India’s crude oil sourcing has shifted as Middle Eastern supplies have recovered and the price advantage of Russian crude has narrowed. According to Reuters, India’s imports of Middle Eastern crude returned to pre-war levels in September 2026, while Russian oil purchases declined amid competition from China and improved availability of Gulf supplies.

Reuters-reported ship-tracking data showed that India’s Middle Eastern crude imports reached approximately 2.8 million barrels per day (mmbbl/d) in September, while Russian imports fell by around 14% month-on-month to approximately 1.8 mmbbl/d. Russia remained India’s largest crude supplier, followed by the United Arab Emirates and Iraq.