India’s Oil Imports Hit Record High as Demand Surges Past China

India is fast cementing its status as the world’s top engine of oil demand growth—overtaking China earlier than expected and showing no signs of slowing down. According to OPEC’s latest Monthly Oil Market Report, India’s oil demand is projected to grow by 3.4% in 2025 to 5.74 million barrels per day (bpd), and then rise another 4.3% in 2026 to 5.99 million bpd. That’s more than double China’s projected growth rates of 1.5% and 1.25% for those years, respectively. The jump in Indian oil consumption is being driven…