India’s Russian Crude Imports Hit €2.9 bn in August, Nearly Matching China’s €3.1 bn

India imported €2.9 billion worth of Russian crude oil in August, almost equal to China's €3.1 billion, as per the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air data. India's imports of crude oil increased from €2.7 billion in July, while those of China fell from €4.1 billion.

The US has been urging India to cut back on its Russian oil imports, stating that imports help fund Moscow's war against Ukraine. In its effort to do so, Washington imposed an extra 25% tariff on a number of Indian imports into the US starting August 27 specifically targeting the nation for importing Russian oil, while other countries were not subjected to such measures.

Reports say that US President Donald Trump also requested the European Union to impose up to 100% tariffs on Chinese and Indian products, as a move to restrict their energy trade with Russia.

China continued in August to be the largest buyer of Russian crude and coal, while Turkiye was leading in the buying of Russian oil products and gas.

India's overall fossil fuel import from Russia was worth €3.6 billion, behind China's €5.7 billion. Aside from crude, India purchased €510 million of coal and €282 million of refined products. China imported €553 million of oil products, €55 million of coal, and €676 million of pipeline gas.

Turkiye was third with €3 billion in Russian fossil fuel imports, including €1.2 billion in pipeline gas, €1 billion in oil products, €596 million in crude, and €225 million in coal. The European Union was fourth with €1.2 billion, led by €773 million in LNG and pipeline gas and €379 million in crude. South Korea ranked fifth with €413 million of coal, €118 million of LNG, and €33 million of oil products.

India has pushed back against US pressure on the grounds that it is discriminatory to target the country, especially while China, the EU, and other countries still import large amounts of Russian energy. Although the US has not outrightly sanctioned Russian oil, it has imposed a price cap, only permitting purchases below a certain level.