India witnessed a significant rebound in crude oil imports from Russia, constituting 36% of the total crude requirements in September 2023 at 1.58 million barrels per day (mbd) out of a total of 4.2 mbd. This resurgence is linked to lower Saudi Arabian crude supplies due to production cuts, coupled with increased availability of Russian Urals, as China’s Shandong refiners reduced their uptake. Simultaneously, India’s crude oil imports from Iraq climbed to 926,000 barrels per day, reflecting a 14.6% YoY increase and an 8.54% MoM rise. Despite geopolitical complexities, the data signals potential for continued growth in Russian crude imports by India.