India’s US crude oil imports jump 270% amid trade talks: Reports
New Delhi: India's crude oil imports from the United States surged by more than 270% year-on-year during the first four months of 2025, as reported by The Indian Express. This sharp increase coincides with intensified trade negotiations between New Delhi and Washington, which are now in the final stages of finalizing an interim deal expected by July 9.
According to data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), India imported 6.31 million tonnes of US crude between January and April 2025, up from 1.69 million tonnes in the same period last year. The US now accounts for 7% of India’s total oil imports, up from just 2% a year earlier.
In value terms, imports rose to $3.78 billion from approximately $1 billion in the year-ago period, with oil price fluctuations playing a significant role in the increase.
The report notes that India is increasing its US energy purchases as part of a broader effort to reduce its trade surplus with America and to secure more diversified and geopolitically stable sources of energy. Imports from the US rose by 63% year-on-year in April alone, helping narrow the trade surplus to $3.1 billion from $3.4 billion in April 2024.
Officials suggest this move could offer India strategic leverage over other oil-supplying nations in West Asia, especially amid regional tensions. Currently, India depends on imports for over 88% of its crude oil needs.
US President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed this energy alignment. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US earlier this year, Trump expressed hopes that the US would become India's leading supplier of oil and gas to help bridge the bilateral trade gap.
In April 2025, US crude accounted for 12% of India’s monthly oil import, up from just 4.6% in April 2024 and 4.7% in March 2025, indicating a steep upward trend.
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Congress misleading public on National Herald case, matter still in court: BJP
New Delhi (PTI): The BJP on Wednesday accused the Congress of running misleading propaganda over the trial court's decision in the National Herald case and said the court refused to take cognisance of the complaint but did not set aside the case.
The case is still pending trial in the Delhi High Court, and the trial court in its order on Tuesday said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) can continue its investigation, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia asserted.
"The court yesterday (Tuesday) said that since it is a private complaint and no FIR has been lodged, it will not take cognizance of it. It's a technical matter. The court also said that ED can continue its investigation further. The court did not set it aside," Bhatia told a press conference at the BJP headquarters here
"Its trial is still going on. Sonia Gandhi is still Accused Number-1 and Rahul Gandhi Accused Number-2," the BJP spokesperson said, alleging, "The Gandhi family thrives on deceit, deception, and propaganda."
