India-US Trade Deal Will Not Displace Russian Barrels: Kpler
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From 2023-25, Russia was the largest crude supplier to India, holding over one-third share in the country's oil basket.
Amid US President Donald Trump's claims following the announcement of the India-US trade pact that New Delhi has promised to halt its energy supplies from Moscow, global cargo-tracking firm Kpler said the development will not displace Russian barrels from the Indian market.
"Following the India–US trade deal announced on 2 February, India's Russian crude imports are unlikely to see a near-term decline. Volumes remain largely locked in for the next 8–10 weeks and continue to be economically critical for India's complex refining system," Kpler's statement read.
Imports are expected to remain broadly stable in the 1.1–1.3 million barrels per day (mbd) range through Q1 and early Q2, with any recent moderation offset by higher Middle East inflows rather than a structural shift away from Russian barrels, it added.
Kpler's assessment is significant, considering that Trump said that tariffs on India were to be cut to 18% from the current 50% after the two countries agreed to a bilateral trade agreement, besides underscoring that Delhi had agreed to halt Russian oil imports and instead purchase more crude from the United States and potentially from Venezuela.
Trump's claims were reiterated by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday.
Kpler's assessment is significant, considering that Trump said that tariffs on India were to be cut to 18% from the current 50% after the two countries agreed to a bilateral trade agreement, besides underscoring that Delhi had agreed to halt Russian oil imports and instead purchase more crude from the United States and potentially from Venezuela.
Trump's claims were reiterated by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday.
"India committed to not only no longer purchasing Russian oil but also buying oil from the United States, and perhaps also from Venezuela," she told reporters in Washington.
India hasn't confirmed Trump and Leavitt's remarks on putting a full stop to buying Russian oil.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said that New Delhi hasn't officially communicated to it that it plans to end its purchases of Russian oil.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said that New Delhi hasn't officially communicated to it that it plans to end its purchases of Russian oil.
🚨🇮🇳🇷🇺 No signal from India on halting Russian oil purchases: Kremlin
— Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) February 3, 2026
The Kremlin has not heard any official statements from India about stopping purchases of Russian oil, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. pic.twitter.com/kqCexmHomG
"So far, we have not heard any statements from Delhi on this matter," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
