India’s crude oil imports from the US during August are expected to hit their lowest levels since December 2024 as refinery economics pushes for more medium-to-high sour crude, while choking of the Strait of Hormuz (SoH) and the Bab-el-Mandeb (BeM) pushed up logistics costs. Kpler opined that US crude exports may be running high, but India is telling a very different story. “So, while aggregate US crude exports may look strong, high exports do not necessarily mean more barrels into every Asian market,” he emphasized. India’s EquationFor India, the equation remains refinery specific — crude quality, yields, freight and competing alternatives ultimately matter more than the headline availability of US crude, Ritolia pointed out. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, India’s crude oil imports from the United States have been on the lower side since the beginning of the current calendar year.