India is preparing contingency plans to safeguard oil supplies after escalating conflict around Iran severely disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz a maritime chokepoint that handles a substantial share of the country’s energy imports. As shipping activity slows and insurers withdraw coverage, policymakers and state refiners are exploring alternative sourcing, including a renewed pivot toward Russian crude.

The urgency stems from India’s heavy dependence on the Gulf route. Roughly 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels per day of crude destined for India normally transit the strait, accounting for about half of total imports. The disruption comes at a time when Indian refiners had recently reduced purchases from Russia under geopolitical pressure and trade negotiations with the United States, increasing reliance on Middle Eastern barrels.

Recent hostilities involving Iran, the United States, and Israel have caused vessels to anchor outside the strait and suspended shipments across the corridor, raising fears of a supply shock. The passage carries around one-fifth of global petroleum flows, making any interruption a major global event with direct consequences for Asian importers like India.

Against this backdrop, Indian state refiners and government officials held discussions over the weekend to map out emergency responses. Among the most immediate options is tapping Russian cargoes already positioned near Asian waters, which can be redirected faster than arranging new shipments from distant suppliers.

India had become the largest buyer of Russian seaborne crude following the Ukraine war, benefiting from discounted prices. However, imports had declined sharply in recent months amid diplomatic pressure. February volumes reportedly fell to just over 1 million barrels per day roughly half of earlier peaks with Middle Eastern suppliers filling the gap. A sudden shift back toward Russia would therefore represent both a tactical supply move and a potential geopolitical recalibration.