Infrastructure cooperation opportunities distinguished supplier relationship depth in India’s 2025 crude procurement landscape, extending beyond simple commodity transactions. Data shows that US crude imports to India surged by 65.6% to $8.2 billion during April-December 2025, while Russian crude imports contracted by more than 17%, falling from $40 billion to $33.1 billion year-on-year.
December 2025 relationships varied in infrastructure cooperation. Russian crude shipments to India totaled $2.71 billion, down 15.15% from $3.2 billion in December 2024, with limited engagement on infrastructure development beyond commodity delivery. Transactional relationships offered constrained strategic value.
Suppliers engaging in infrastructure cooperation expanded presence. Saudi Arabia’s 61% growth to $1.75 billion in December 2025 accompanied discussions of refinery expansions and storage facility investments. The United States’ 31% increase to $569.30 million aligned with LNG terminal and pipeline cooperation. Iraq and the UAE, contributing $2.37 billion and $1.65 billion respectively, engaged in petroleum infrastructure projects.
Infrastructure cooperation gained importance following the US imposition of a 25% punitive tariff on Indian goods on August 27, 2025. This policy highlighted the value of suppliers willing to invest in India’s energy infrastructure, creating mutual dependencies beyond spot crude transactions. India prioritized suppliers offering comprehensive cooperation. Russian crude imports declined from $3.62 billion in July 2025 to $2.71 billion in December 2025.
India’s total crude oil imports from all sources reached $11.29 billion in December 2025, up 9.1% from $10.34 billion in December 2024. Cumulative imports for April-December 2025 totaled $105.10 billion, compared to $109.33 billion in the corresponding period of 2024. The infrastructure cooperation demonstrates relationship depth beyond commodity trading.