Beyond Hormuz: What Are India's Alternative Oil Import Routes?

India imports more than 88 percent of its crude oil requirements, with roughly half of that transiting the Strait of Hormuz, averaging around 2.5 million barrels per day. Non-Hormuz sources already accounted for about 60 per cent of India's supply in 2025. As the conflict deepens, Indian refiners are actively scouting safer India oil imports alternative routes. 

Here is a look at every option on the table.

Why Is Hormuz So Critical For India?

The Strait of Hormuz handled about 20.9 million barrels per day in the first half of 2025, roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption, with approximately 84 per cent of that crude destined for Asian markets including India. Any sustained closure directly threatens India's refinery operations, fuel prices, and broader India energy security.

What Is Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline?

Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline moves crude from its eastern oil fields directly to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, bypassing Hormuz entirely. During previous regional tensions, Aramco shifted seaborne crude flows away from Hormuz by routing them through this pipeline to Red Sea ports.  It is among the most immediately usable of all Gulf pipeline alternatives for Indian refiners.

What Is The UAE's Habshan-Fujairah Pipeline?

The UAE operates a dedicated pipeline from its onshore fields to the Fujairah terminal on the Gulf of Oman, completely circumventing the Strait. Together, Saudi Arabia's East-West line and the UAE’s Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline offer a combined bypass capacity of around 2.6 million barrels per day. Indian refiners can load Fujairah-origin cargoes with zero Hormuz exposure.

Can These Pipelines Replace Hormuz Entirely?

No. Combined bypass capacity covers only around 2.6 million barrels per day, a fraction of the 20 million that normally transit Hormuz. Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar have no comparable pipeline alternatives at all. These routes serve as a partial buffer, not a full substitute, for disrupted Gulf volumes.

How Much Can Russia Contribute?

Russia has been India's largest crude supplier in recent years, with its cargoes travelling through the Indian Ocean without touching the Gulf. Shipping data suggests roughly 120 million barrels of Russian crude is currently at sea, and Indian companies have begun negotiating purchases from these floating cargoes, making it one of the faster-activation options available for India crude oil diversification.

What Can West Africa Offer India?

West African producers such as Nigeria and Angola supply crude through routes entirely independent of the Persian Gulf, with oil grades that suit many Indian refineries. Indian state refiners already hold established trading relationships with both, making ramp-up relatively straightforward in the short term.

Are Supplies From The Americas Viable?

Indian refining companies have opened talks with suppliers in the United States and Latin America, with cargoes from these regions travelling longer routes that avoid the Strait entirely. The constraint is logistics: Americas-to-India voyages take 25 to 45 days versus 5 to 7 days from the Gulf, pushing freight costs considerably higher for India oil imports alternative routes.

How Secure Is India's Overall Energy Position?

According to Kpler, India holds around 100 million barrels of commercial crude stocks across storage tanks, strategic reserves at Mangalore, Padur, and Visakhapatnam, and volumes on ships already in transit, providing roughly 40 to 45 days of coverage. 

The reserves offer a workable near-term buffer, but a disruption extending well beyond weeks would place India energy security under considerably greater strain.

(With inputs from yMedia)