By the close of 2022, Russia markedly boosted its energy shipments to India. Oil supplies to the Indian market surged, increasing nearly twentyfold from the previous year and reaching 41 million tons. In parallel, Moscow expanded exports of refined products as well, nearly doubling to 6.2 million tons, a trend noted by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in official briefings. These shifts reflect a broader push to diversify export destinations while maintaining robust energy trade amid shifting global dynamics.
Along with crude shipments, coal deliveries to India also rose sharply in 2022. The volume tripled, climbing to 20 million tons, underscoring India’s growing appetite for Russian energy and its role as a major importer of both fuel and mining resources. Novak highlighted that the combined movement of crude, coal, and petroleum products to the Indian market demonstrated Russia’s ability to scale trade volumes in response to demand from one of Asia’s largest energy consumers.
In total for 2022, oil flows to India reached 41 million tons, while coal shipments stood at 20 million tons. Exports of Russian petroleum products to India reached 6.2 million tons, up from 3.1 million tons in the previous year, illustrating a broadening exposure to India’s energy needs across multiple product categories. These figures align with ongoing assessments of evolving supply chains and shifts in regional energy partnerships, where Indian demand remains a significant engine for growth in Russian trade flows.
Looking ahead, discussions about Western markets remained cautious in 2022. Projections suggested a notable reduction in exports of oil and petroleum products to Western countries, influenced by ongoing sanctions and geopolitical constraints. By late 2023, estimates indicated that Russia might export roughly 40% of the oil and oil product volumes compared with the levels seen in earlier years, with the figure around 87 million tons versus 223 million tons previously. Analysts and officials continued to monitor how sanctions, price dynamics, and production choices would shape these trade patterns in the medium term, while seeking to preserve strategic resilience across energy channels.