MUMBAI : According to traders familiar with the matter, Reliance bought at least 2.5 million barrels of Middle Eastern crude last week, including Iraq’s Basrah Medium, Al-Shaheen, and Qatar Land grades. The buying spree marks a noticeable uptick from the conglomerate’s usual procurement patterns, as it diversifies supply sources in response to geopolitical pressure.

The move comes as the United States intensifies efforts to limit India’s intake of discounted Russian oil, a key revenue stream for Moscow amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump claimed that India had agreed to halt all Russian oil purchases, a statement New Delhi has yet to confirm. Indian refiners, including Reliance, have indicated they may scale down, but not completely stop, imports from Russia.

Beyond Washington’s diplomatic push, a looming European Union ban on fuel refined from Russian crude, set to take effect on January 21, 2026, poses another challenge for Reliance. The rule could potentially hit the company’s exports of refined products to the bloc, with the EU’s official guidelines advising member states to take “added precautions” when dealing with countries like India.

Traders say Reliance has also begun making inquiries across multiple suppliers in the Middle East for oil grades similar to Russian blends, a sign that the company is preparing for a longer-term shift in its sourcing strategy.