India Shifts Crude Oil Imports Away from US in Favor of BRICS Partners

India's state-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has made a strategic pivot in its crude procurement, deliberately excluding US shipments in its latest tender. Middle Eastern and West African suppliers now take precedence—a MOVE reflecting both economic calculus and geopolitical alignment.

The decision comes as BRICS nations intensify energy cooperation. Russia and Saudi Arabia's planned October production increases further tilt the balance. Tight refining margins, freight economics, and widening price differentials between suppliers formed the immediate rationale.

This realignment mirrors China's parallel reduction in US crude imports. Both Asian giants increasingly favor BRICS-linked energy partners, accelerating the de-dollarization of oil trade. The logistical shift carries symbolic weight—a tangible step toward multipolar energy markets.