Daily volumes climbed from June's 2.7 million barrels, cementing Russia's dominance in the Indian market despite the expiration of a U.S. waiver on related tanker transactions last month. Vessel-tracking data from Kpler confirms that total Indian crude imports hovered just above 5 million barrels per day, with Russian shipments accounting for more than half of that aggregate figure.

Refiners also diversified their intake by increasing imports from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait, taking advantage of a brief window of stability in the Persian Gulf. The United Arab Emirates maintained its position as the second-largest supplier, leveraging its ability to load tankers outside the volatile Strait of Hormuz. Analysts suggest this heavy reliance on Russian energy is set to persist, as shipping conditions near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait remain precarious and unpredictable for international tanker traffic.