US crude supplies to India surge 50% in H1

Indian refiners' preference for non-OPEC crude growing: S&P

- ARUNIMA BHARADWAJ

INDIA'S CRUDE OIL inflows from the US surged more than 50% and from Brazil 80% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to data from S&P Global Commodity Insights.

The trend signals a growing affinity of Indian refiners for non-OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) crude as the country looks to widen its source of supplies.

S&P noted that while sluggish purchases by China amid higher tariffs have opened up a window for India to ship in more US crude and work towards bridging the trade deficit with Washington, multiple recent diplomatic visits by petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri and other government officials to Brazil to strengthen energy ties have started to yield results.

"Crude supplies from the US have been rising but have been limited to a few refiners in India. This allows room for other refiners to grow US imports further during the year," said Abhishek Ranjan, South Asia oil research lead at S&P Global Commodity Insights.

According to data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea, India imported 271,000 barrels per day of crude oil from the US in the first half of 2025, up around 51% from 180,000 b/d imported in the same period in 2024.