India spent $90.6 billion on crude oil imports between April and September, up 46.3 per cent from $61.9 billion a year earlier, official data released late on Friday show. The volume bought barely changed, at 122.7 million tonnes against 121.8 million, so the increase is largely driven by price.
The Indian basket averaged $116.09 a barrel in September, against $90.19 in August and $69.61 in September 2025. Brent averaged $116.77 in September, $90.84 in August and $68.02 a year earlier. The crude import bill for September alone was $15.4 billion, about 47 per cent higher than a year before. Import dependence stood at 88.1 per cent on a consumption basis, against 88.3 per cent.
Domestic production slipped. Crude oil and condensate output fell to 13.7 million tonnes from 14.2 million, and crude alone to 12.8 million tonnes from 13.2 million. Gross natural gas production fell 4.4 per cent to 16,804 million standard cubic metres, while LNG imports rose 4.4 per cent to 18,189 million. Gas consumption was essentially flat at 34,769 million, and import dependency rose to 52.3 per cent from 50.1 per cent.
Petroleum product consumption fell 3.3 per cent to 114.8 million tonnes, led by LPG (down 15.5 per cent to 13.7 million tonnes), naphtha (down 18 per cent to 4.8 million) and bitumen and petcoke (each down 25.4 per cent). Transport fuels rose: diesel by 4.9 per cent to 47.9 million tonnes, petrol by 7.1 per cent to 22.7 million and aviation turbine fuel by 0.6 per cent to 4.4 million. Product output rose 0.2 per cent to 140 million tonnes and refinery throughput 1.4 per cent.
Lower domestic output increases reliance on imports, and prolonged high crude prices could add pressure on inflation, particularly through fuel and transport costs.
