India diversifies its oil sources, and Iraq is an imminent alternative to Russia.
India diversifies its oil sources, and Iraq is an imminent alternative to Russia.
2025-08-05 03:51
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Middle Eastern countries, led by Iraq, have emerged as potential candidates to fill any gap left by Russian supplies to India should Western sanctions on Moscow escalate.
India’s Department of Statistics reported that the country’s imports of Russian oil in 2024 amounted to approximately 1.8 million barrels per day, making it the world’s largest importer of Russian crude, followed by China with 1.24 million barrels and Turkey with 0.3 million barrels.
However, Indian refiners have begun to slow down their contracting with Moscow, awaiting a clearer position from the United States on the secondary sanctions threatened by President Donald Trump against entities doing business with Russia.
In this context, analysts said that any potential decline in Russian supplies could refocus the spotlight on Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE as alternative sources, especially since Middle Eastern crude oils meet the needs of Indian refineries.
shafaq.com
