Assaults on the East-West pipeline of Saudi Arabia and Russia’s key refineries have added another layer of pressure on India’s crude oil imports.

Recently, India’s crude oil imports have comprised more than 45-50 percent of total oil imports from both nations. Before the Strait of Hormuz became inaccessible, Saudi Arabia used to sell its oil via an East-West pipeline.

After the pipeline attack, Saudi Arabia’s oil corporation Aramco has decided to suspend oil supply to Indian refineries for a period of time. Prior to the outbreak of war, Saudi Arabia was providing around nine percent of India's total oil requirements.

In addition, Russia’s refineries have decreased their capacity to export, making availability an issue rather than cost. Russian oil imports to India in the month of September will be less compared to the month of August.

Although Russia is the biggest supplier, the loading process has decreased. Now the priority for refineries is availability rather than price. Other sources of alternative supply are available in countries like UAE, Iraq, West Africa, and Venezuela, but at higher prices.

With the situation in West Asia worsening again, oil importing companies are unable to find ships for transportation. Freight and insurance premiums for available ships are very high.

The price of large vessels (VLCCs - with a capacity to transport 2 million barrels at a time) carrying crude oil from the Arabian Gulf stood at $61-62 per tonne on September 14, nearly double the price in August ($34.6) and six times the price in February ($10.6).

Freight from Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura Port was $4.34 per barrel in August compared to $0.85 in February. The cost of shipping oil from Russia has also increased by 10-15 percent in recent months. It was less than $1 per barrel in February 2026 and has now reached $4.50 per barrel.

India purchased oil and gas from 31 countries in August. India purchased oil and gas from 31 countries between March and August. The price of the Indian crude basket averaged $83.22 per barrel in June, $82.04 in July, and $90.19 in August.

It rose sharply to above $111 in September and briefly reached $131 per barrel. India imported 100.7 million tons of crude oil in April-August, almost equal to the same period last year. However, the import bill during this period increased by 48 percent to $74.8 billion.

Assaults on the East-West pipeline of Saudi Arabia and Russia’s key refineries have added another layer of pressure on India’s crude oil imports.

Recently, India’s crude oil imports have comprised more than 45-50 percent of total oil imports from both nations. Before the Strait of Hormuz became inaccessible, Saudi Arabia used to sell its oil via an East-West pipeline.

After the pipeline attack, Saudi Arabia’s oil corporation Aramco has decided to suspend oil supply to Indian refineries for a period of time. Prior to the outbreak of war, Saudi Arabia was providing around nine percent of India's total oil requirements.

In addition, Russia’s refineries have decreased their capacity to export, making availability an issue rather than cost. Russian oil imports to India in the month of September will be less compared to the month of August.

Although Russia is the biggest supplier, the loading process has decreased. Now the priority for refineries is availability rather than price. Other sources of alternative supply are available in countries like UAE, Iraq, West Africa, and Venezuela, but at higher prices.

With the situation in West Asia worsening again, oil importing companies are unable to find ships for transportation. Freight and insurance premiums for available ships are very high.

The price of large vessels (VLCCs - with a capacity to transport 2 million barrels at a time) carrying crude oil from the Arabian Gulf stood at $61-62 per tonne on September 14, nearly double the price in August ($34.6) and six times the price in February ($10.6).

Freight from Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura Port was $4.34 per barrel in August compared to $0.85 in February. The cost of shipping oil from Russia has also increased by 10-15 percent in recent months. It was less than $1 per barrel in February 2026 and has now reached $4.50 per barrel.

India purchased oil and gas from 31 countries in August. India purchased oil and gas from 31 countries between March and August. The price of the Indian crude basket averaged $83.22 per barrel in June, $82.04 in July, and $90.19 in August.

It rose sharply to above $111 in September and briefly reached $131 per barrel. India imported 100.7 million tons of crude oil in April-August, almost equal to the same period last year. However, the import bill during this period increased by 48 percent to $74.8 billion.