SEATTLE (Oil Monster): Trade data released on Monday revealed that Iraq exported 870,000 barrels per day (BPD) of crude oil to India in December 2025, positioning itself as the country’s second-largest supplier. Russia, despite tightened U.S. and European sanctions, remained India’s top oil source, though imports fell by roughly 22 percent to 1.38 million BPD compared to the previous month, according to Shafaq News.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE followed with exports of 650,000 BPD and 450,000 BPD, respectively. Overall, OPEC’s share of India’s crude imports rose to 50 percent in 2025, up from 49 percent in 2024, while Russia’s contribution dropped to 33.3 percent from 36 percent a year earlier.
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In broader regional trade, China and India remained the leading importers of Iraqi seaborne oil in November, taking in approximately 1.22 million BPD and 832,000 BPD, respectively. Notably, China increased its Iraqi imports by over 120,000 BPD from November 2024, while Iraq’s oil exports to India fell by 228,000 BPD over the same period.
These shifts highlight evolving dynamics in global oil trade, reflecting changing geopolitical and market pressures that are reshaping energy flows between the Middle East, India, and China.
