New Delhi: India’s crude oil import bill in August 2026 stood at around 18.2% higher than what the figure was for the same month in 2025, provisional government data has revealed, reported The Hindu.The fact that despite a 3% deacceleration in import of crude oil in August 2026, the import figure was still much higher than August 2025, shows the continuing impact of the West Asia crisis.India’s crude oil basket averaged $90.19 for every barrel during the reported period compared to $82.04 per barrel in July and $69.11 per barrel in August last year.India’s net import bill, amounts to the difference between petroleum products, crude and gas imports and exports of petroleum products has continued to stand at $9.3 billion.As per the provisional government data, India’s refiners imported 19 million metric tonnes (MMT) of crude in August for which they spent $11.7 billion. In the same month last year, they had spent $9.9 billion to import 19.6 MMT of crude oil, reported The Hindu.Ever since the conflict in West Asia began in February this year, India’s import of crude oil from Russia has steadily increased.The Wire had earlier reported that as per a latest analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), crude oil accounted for 83% of India’s total Russian fossil fuel imports. Crude oil imports from Russia amounted to €4.8 billion ($5.55 billion) in May alone. Among other fossil fuel imports, oil products contributed €550 million, while coal imports were around €429 million.