Crude import bill up 46.3% to $90.6 billion in Apr-Sep 2026: PPAC
Why in the news
The monthly Ready Reckoner of the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), reported on 17 October 2026, showed that India’s crude oil import bill rose sharply in the first half of 2026-27, mainly because of higher global oil prices.
Key facts
- Import bill: $90.6 billion in April-September 2026, up 46.3% from $61.9 billion.
- Volume: 122.7 MMT against 121.8 MMT, a marginal rise.
- September alone: $15.4 billion, about 47% above September 2025.
- Import dependence: 88.1% (88.3% a year earlier).
- Domestic crude output: 12.8 MMT, down from 13.2 MMT.
- Gas: import dependency rose to 52.3% from 50.1%; gross gas output fell 4.4%.
| Indicator | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Indian basket (Sep, $/bbl) | 116.09 | 69.61 |
| Brent (Sep, $/bbl) | 116.77 | 68.02 |
| Product consumption (Apr-Sep, MMT) | 114.8 | 118.7 |
| LPG consumption (Apr-Sep, MMT) | 13.7 | 16.2 |
Among fuels, diesel use grew 4.9% to 47.9 MMT and petrol 7.1% to 22.7 MMT, while LPG fell 15.5% and naphtha 18%.
About PPAC
PPAC is the Centre’s petroleum planning and analysis cell; its monthly Ready Reckoner tracks crude and gas imports, domestic production, fuel consumption and prices.
Exam angle
- Long spells of high crude prices can feed inflation through fuel and transport costs.
- The rise was driven by price, not volume – falling domestic output deepens reliance on imports.
- Remember: crude import dependence 88.1%, gas import dependency 52.3%.