Affected by the ongoing disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, India has recently significantly increased its imports of Russian crude oil, with import volumes reaching new highs in June and July.

According to the British Financial Times on the 23rd, citing Sumit Ritolia, chief analyst of the ship tracking agency Kepler, India imported more than 2.6 million barrels of Russian crude oil per day in June and July, compared with the low point in February. About 1 million barrels increased significantly, accounting for more than half of the country's total daily crude oil imports.

This is the Delhi Gate photographed on August 20, 2025 in New Delhi, the capital of India. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wu Yue

According to data from Kepler, India's average daily crude oil imports have reached 5 million barrels, the highest level since the outbreak of the war in Iran.

India imports more than 90 percent of its crude oil and natural gas. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his Independence Day speech this month that energy security is India's "top priority" and must "fully develop alternative energy sources".

According to data from the "National Transformation Committee", a think tank of the Indian government, coal accounts for nearly 60% of India's energy supply structure and oil accounts for about 28%. Experts generally believe that although India is promoting energy transformation, it is difficult to get rid of its dependence on fossil fuels and imported energy in the short term.