India’s crude oil import pattern in January 2026 indicates a clear shift towards lower-risk and execution-certain supply, with higher intake from the Middle East offsetting a more selective and compliance-driven approach to Russian crude, according to data and analysis by Kpler. The trend does not point to a wholesale replacement of Russian crude but reflects what Kpler describes as “de-risking rather than replacing”, with refiners recalibrating their crude slate amid rising sanctions scrutiny, compliance pressure, and execution complexity. Russia remains part of India’s crude basket, but volumes are no longer at the elevated levels seen during 2023–2025, while Middle Eastern barrels are increasingly being used as a stabilising backfill.