Indian refineries boosted Russian crude intake in May, with Vadinar leading at a 36% month-on-month rise, followed by Jamnagar (+14%), New Mangalore (+13%), Visakhapatnam (+42%), and Paradip reporting its highest Russian volumes in two years.

Russia remained India’s second-largest crude supplier after China, with crude oil making up the majority of India’s purchases.

In May 2026, China accounted for 38% of Russia’s export revenues to its top five importers, signaling a continued global shift in energy trade patterns amid sanctions and geopolitical changes.

Exports to the United States came from Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery, Türkiye’s STAR refinery, and Tupras Izmit refinery, with STAR sourcing 39% and Jamnagar 15% of Russian crude feedstock in the prior three months.

CREA notes that despite the EU ban on oil products refined from Russian crude, shipments from refineries processing Russian oil continued to reach sanctioning countries, totaling about €641 million in May 2026.

China’s May 2026 profile shows crude making up about 69% of purchases, alongside demand for pipeline gas, coal, LNG, and oil products; meanwhile, 10 shipments of oil products refined from Russian crude were unloaded at EU ports in May amid ongoing sanctions evolution.

CREA data indicate continued purchases despite sanctions, including oil products refined from Russian crude exported to sanctioning regions such as the EU, Australia, the US, and New Zealand.