• IOC bought about 2 million barrels of Angolan crude for March delivery
• The purchase is part of a wider 7 million-barrel buying program
• India’s imports of Russian oil fell sharply in December 2025

India’s state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has included Angolan crude in its recent oil purchases, according to international media reports on January 23. Angola is among the suppliers tapped by India as it reshapes its oil import mix.

IOC bought around 2 million barrels of Angolan crude sold by U.S. major ExxonMobil, the same sources said. No details were disclosed on pricing or contractual terms, but the cargoes are scheduled for delivery in March.

The Angolan volumes are not a standalone purchase. They are part of a broader buying program of about 7 million barrels for the period. This also includes around 3 million barrels from the United Arab Emirates and 2 million barrels from Brazil, according to information reported by Reuters.

The move comes as India reduces its reliance on Russian crude. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), cited by The Times of India in its monthly analysis of Russian fossil fuel exports, India imported about 1.2 million barrels per day of Russian oil in December 2025, down from nearly 1.7 million barrels per day in November.

India has already turned to African crude in the past to supplement its non-Russian oil supplies. In March 2025, Ecofin Agency reported that the country had sourced African cargoes to diversify its imports. In August of the same year, Reuters said major state-run refiners, including IOC and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), had bought at least 22 million barrels of non-Russian crude for delivery in September and October. These volumes included Nigerian oil, alongside crude from the United States, Brazil, Libya, and the Middle East.

Abdel-Latif Boureima