New Delhi, August 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India has emerged as a significant supplier of petrol to Russia, with shipments reaching nearly one million barrels over the past two months as Ukrainian drone attacks disrupted Russian refinery operations and pushed Moscow to rely on fuel imports to meet domestic demand, according to ship-tracking and energy analytics firm Vortexa.
Russia’s seaborne gasoline imports surged to a record 470,000 tonnes in August, while long queues at petrol stations in several areas reflected growing fuel shortages. Vortexa’s data indicated that domestic fuel production had fallen by as much as 70 per cent amid refinery shutdowns.
The firm recorded 32 attacks on Russian refineries during July and August, averaging roughly one attack every two days.
India, Turkey and Morocco emerged as important suppliers helping Russia bridge the domestic production shortfall. Trade sources said a substantial portion of India’s shipments came from Nayara Energy’s refinery at Vadinar on the Gujarat coast, in which Russian oil major Rosneft holds a stake.
The disruption has also prompted Russia to restrict petrol and diesel exports as authorities seek to stabilise domestic fuel supplies.
The developments come as India continues to expand its refining capacity. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said earlier this month that India’s refining capacity is expected to rise from 272 million tonnes per annum (MMTPA) towards 300 MMTPA, strengthening its position as the world’s third-largest refiner.
India has also widened its crude sourcing base amid geopolitical uncertainty. The country now imports crude from 41 countries, compared with 27 earlier, following the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 per cent of global oil and gas exports normally transit.
Russia has remained India’s largest crude supplier. According to shipping intelligence and research firm Kpler, Russian crude shipments to India are expected to average around 2.1 million barrels per day (mbpd) in August, down from record levels of around 2.6 mbpd in June and July.
Despite the decline, Russia is expected to account for more than 40 per cent of India’s crude imports in August. The UAE is the next-largest supplier at 611,000 barrels per day, followed by Saudi Arabia at 385,000 bpd, Venezuela at 383,000 bpd, Nigeria at 129,000 bpd and Brazil at 120,000 bpd.
India imports more than 85 per cent of its crude oil requirements, making diversification of supply sources and routes crucial for energy security. A broader sourcing network helps reduce exposure to disruptions involving any single country, region or transit route while strengthening India’s ability to manage volatile global energy markets.
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