The United States and India have recently held productive trade discussions, with Indian refiners reportedly reducing Russian oil imports by nearly 50%, a White House official told Reuters on Thursday.
However, Indian industry sources said that the reduction is not yet visible in current figures and may only appear in import data for December or January. They explained that refiners had already placed orders for November shipments, which include some cargoes set to arrive in December.
So far, the Indian government has not officially instructed refiners to reduce purchases of Russian oil, and none of the refineries or the oil ministry have issued public comments on the matter.
The development comes after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pledged to stop importing oil from Russia. Trump described the decision as a significant step in Washington’s global efforts to limit Moscow’s energy revenue amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump said, “I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.”
India and China have been the two largest buyers of Russian oil since Western sanctions began in 2022. India imported about 1.62 million barrels per day from Russia in September—nearly one-third of its total crude oil needs—making Moscow its leading supplier.
Analysts believe that while India’s reported decision marks progress in U.S.-India cooperation, completely halting Russian crude imports will take time due to long-term contracts and price benefits. Trump also acknowledged this, saying the transition “will take a little time, but it will happen soon.”
In other news read more about Trump Says Modi Assured Him India Will Stop Buying Russian Oil Amid Sanctions
Washington has also imposed higher tariffs on Indian exports, citing continued purchases of Russian crude. Despite the pressure, New Delhi has maintained that affordable energy is essential for its growing economy and energy security.
