India’s state refiners are turning to Nigerian crude to fill supply gaps, which could mark a notable shift in global energy flows as US political pressure curbs the country’s imports from Russia.
More than two million barrels of Nigerian oil are expected to arrive in India between September and October 2025, according to Reuters. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) recently bought one million barrels of Agbami crude for September delivery in a tender awarded to global trader Trafigura, while Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) secured additional Nigerian cargoes through spot deals.
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The purchases come alongside other acquisitions—one million barrels of Angola’s Girassol, one million barrels of US Mars, and three million barrels of Abu Dhabi Murban—reflecting India’s rapid diversification since halting Russian shipments in late July under pressure from Washington.
Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, India had been among the largest buyers of discounted Russian oil, largely avoiding the spot market for other suppliers. Now, Nigerian grades—valued for their low sulfur content and suitability for producing gasoline and diesel—are taking a larger share of Asia’s import mix, a space long dominated by Middle Eastern producers.
But the surge in Nigerian exports to India has a twist. While millions of barrels head east, the $20bn Dangote Oil Refinery in Lagos—the largest in Africa—has been sourcing much of its feedstock from the United States. The refinery imported an average of 10 million barrels in July, despite a naira-for-crude supply arrangement with the Nigerian government.
