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India March crude imports plunge as Iran war disrupts Middle East supply and Russia records surge
Economy
Published on 24 April 2026
Strait of Hormuz halt forced India to double down on Russia
India’s crude oil imports fell sharply in March as conflict in the Middle East disrupted tanker routes and effectively halted transit through the Strait of Hormuz. With supplies delayed, India leaned more heavily on Russian crude, reshuffling its supplier rankings. Russia stayed the top source while Saudi Arabia climbed into second place as other flows weakened.
- March crude imports dropped sharply amid Middle East conflict disruptions
- Transit through the Strait of Hormuz was halted, slowing shipments
- India increased reliance on Russian crude to offset supply gaps
- Supplier rankings shifted, keeping Russia dominant and lifting Saudi
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times