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India’s crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports have shown signs of recovery in May 2026 after supply disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict affected inflows during March and April. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies have largely improved, outpacing the pre-conflict levels. Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) emerge as the top suppliers to the nation.
{alcircleadd}Crude oil imports rose to around 4.9 million barrels per day (mbd) in May, indicating a month-on-month surge of 8.89 per cent compared to the 4.5 mbd (approx.) sourced during March and April. However, import volumes remained below the 5.2 mbd recorded in February, indicating that supply chains are yet to fully return to pre-conflict levels.
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Interestingly, LNG import volumes recovered more strongly, surpassing the February volumes and helping maintain comfortable inventory levels.
Russia continued to be India’s largest crude oil supplier in May, while the UAE emerged as the second-largest supplier, followed by Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Venezuela. Russian crude remained a crucial resource to Indian refiners due to competitive pricing, reliable availability and logistical flexibility amid continuing market uncertainty.
According to market analysts, sustained purchases of Russian crude helped India reduce exposure to supply disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and limited dependence on higher-cost Atlantic Basin cargoes.
LNG imports remained broadly stable despite temporary fluctuations. Kpler data showed that Qatar’s share in India’s LNG imports has declined in recent months, while supplies from the US, Oman, Nigeria and Angola have become increasingly important.
India has managed to navigate through supply challenges with a combination of diversified sourcing, increased arrivals from Atlantic Basin suppliers, inventory management and demand-side measures. However, prolonged disruptions could result in greater reliance on energy supplies from Russia, the US, Africa and Latin America.
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