{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.timecybermedia.com/Pages/business/Energy / Oil/russia-remains-indias-top-crude-oil-supplier-in-february-saudi-arabia-close-second"},"headline":"Russia Remains India’s Top Crude Oil Supplier in February; Saudi Arabia Close Second","description":"Russia retained its position as India’s largest crude oil supplier in February, with Saudi Arabia emerging as a close second. The trend underscores India’s continued reliance on discounted Russian crude while balancing imports from traditional Gulf partners.","image":["https://res.cloudinary.com/donttjaap/image/upload/v1772516311/primetime_news/rbhqrn0oql3xbk7ajoct.jpg"],"datePublished":"2026-03-03T05:38:32.125Z","dateModified":"2026-03-03T05:38:32.125Z","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Riddhima Vashisht","url":"https://www.timecybermedia.com"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time Cyber Media","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.timecybermedia.com/logo.png"}},"articleSection":"business","articleBody":"

Russia Continues as India’s Biggest Crude Supplier in February; Saudi Arabia Narrows Gap

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Russia remained India’s largest crude oil supplier in February, maintaining its dominant position in the country’s import basket, while Saudi Arabia ranked a close second, according to trade and shipping data.

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Russian Oil Maintains Lead

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Discounted Russian crude has continued to attract Indian refiners, helping Moscow retain its top supplier status. Since 2022, India has significantly increased purchases of Russian oil, benefiting from competitive pricing amid Western sanctions on Moscow.

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Russian grades such as Urals have been widely processed by Indian refiners, contributing substantially to overall import volumes.

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Saudi Arabia Regains Ground

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Saudi Arabia, traditionally one of India’s top oil partners, remained a strong contender in February. Higher allocations from Riyadh and stable long-term contracts helped it narrow the gap with Russia.

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Other Gulf producers, including Iraq and the UAE, also continued to supply significant volumes to Indian refiners.

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Strategic Energy Balancing

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India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, continues to diversify its crude sourcing to ensure energy security and cost efficiency. The balancing act between Russian discounts and longstanding Gulf partnerships reflects New Delhi’s pragmatic approach to energy diplomacy.

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With global oil markets facing volatility amid geopolitical tensions, India’s import strategy remains closely watched by global energy analysts.