India's Crude Oil Import Shift: UAE Overtakes Saudi Arabia in May 2026 with 5.4 Lakh Barrels Per Day

In a significant shift in India’s oil import dynamics, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) emerged as India's second largest crude supplier in May, surpassing Saudi Arabia.  

This change comes amid ongoing disruptions in West Asia that have affected traditional supply routes. 

UAE Becomes Second Largest Crude Supplier 

According to data from commodity analytics firm Kpler, the UAE supplied 5,40,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude to India in May. Although this was a 5% decrease from April, it represented a significant 166% increase from March’s 2,03,000 bpd. 

Russia remained the largest supplier, with imports reaching 19,00,000 bpd in May, marking a 23% rise from April. Intriguingly, Russian crude imports have surged 73% from January’s 10,80,000 bpd. 

Impact of West Asia Conflict 

Despite a long-standing reliance on Saudi Arabia, which stood as the third largest supplier, India's imports from the kingdom plummeted by 41% to 3,98,000 bpd compared to April.  

This decline is primarily due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route before the recent conflicts in West Asia. 

Read More: RBI Plans to Explore Cross-Border CBDC Transactions with Singapore, UAE and Other Global Partners! 

Alternative Supply Routes 

Amidst these disruptions, the UAE has been rerouting supplies through Fujairah, while Saudi Arabia uses the Yanbu pipelines as alternative routes.  

The strategic use of these bypasses has become essential, although they are not yet sufficient to entirely replace the shipments usually passed through Hormuz. 

India's Diversification Strategy 

India has also diversified its import sources by increasing purchases from countries like Venezuela, Brazil, and the US.  

Venezuela supplied 3,03,000 bpd, while imports from Brazil increased by 5.3% to 2,90,000 bpd and the US deliveries rose by 107% to 2,09,000 bpd in May. 

Conclusion 

May saw a significant reshuffle in India's energy imports, with the UAE overtaking Saudi Arabia as the second largest crude supplier after Russia. This shift highlights India's adaptive approach in response to geopolitical tensions in West Asia, as it actively seeks to diversify its energy procurement sources. 

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