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RPT-Indian state refiners pause Russian oil purchases, sources say

Industry sources claim that Indian state refiners stopped buying Russian crude oil last week, as the discounts have narrowed in this month. Donald Trump has also warned other countries against purchasing oil from Moscow.

India, which is the third largest oil importer in the world, is the top buyer of Russian crude by sea. This revenue stream for Russia, as it continues to wage war against Ukraine, has been vital for the country.

Four sources familiar with the refiners’ plans to purchase Russian crude have told us that the country's state-owned refiners, Indian Oil Corp., Hindustan Petroleum Corp., Bharat Petroleum Corp. and Mangalore Refinery Petrochemical Ltd., have not purchased Russian crude for the last week or so.

IOC, BPCL HPCL MRPL, and the Federal Oil Ministry did not respond immediately to'comments.

Sources said that the four refiners buy Russian oil regularly on a delivery basis, and they have also turned to spot markets as a source of replacement oil - mainly Middle Eastern grades like Abu Dhabi's Murban oil and West African crude.

Reliance Industries, a private refiner, and Nayara Energy are owned in majority by Russian entities, including Rosneft. They have signed annual agreements with Moscow, and they are the largest Russian oil buyers for India.

Trump announced 100% tariffs against countries that purchase Russian oil, unless Moscow agrees to a major deal of peace with Ukraine.

Sources say that Indian refiners have withdrawn from Russian crude due to the decline in Russian exports, and a steady demand. This is because of the Western sanctions imposed against Moscow for the first time in 2022.

Even buyers who adhere to the price cap are concerned that the latest EU curbs will complicate international trade, including fund-raising. India reiterated its opposition against "unilateral sanction".

Trump announced on Wednesday that a 25% tariff would be imposed on all goods imported from India starting August 1. He also said that negotiations are ongoing. He warned against possible penalties for the purchase of Russian oil and arms.

Trump reduced the deadline for imposing secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian goods to 10-12 from 50 days, if Moscow fails to agree to a peace agreement with Ukraine.

About 35% of India’s total supplies are supplied by Russia.

In the first half 2025, private refiners purchased nearly 60% of India’s average 1.8 millions barrels per day Russian oil imports, while state refiners, which control 60% of India’s total 5.2 million bpd refinery capacity, purchased the rest.

Reliance bought Abu Dhabi Murban oil for loading in October of this month. This was an unusual move from the refiner.

(source: Reuters)