October 12, 2026 | Is India Bartering Away Its Heft?: India is the third largest importer of crude oil after China and the United States. It is also the second largest importer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) after China, and the fourth largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG). And here is the curious paradox: India is the second largest exporter of refined petroleum products by value after the US. Moreover, it is the largest exporter of refined petroleum in Asia. This raises the question: whose energy security are we really protecting? Indian consumers are clearly not benefiting at all if the country’s refineries are merely processing crude oil primarily for exports of petroleum products. Worse, they are being forced to shoulder the burden of rising fuel taxes to shore up the country’s treasury. India has the world’s fourth largest crude refining capacity which enables it to process critical fuels like diesel, petrol, and aviation turbine fuel. A number of energy experts have now started to wonder whether the thrust on exports has compromised the interests of the Indian consumer. Click Free Access column Petro Intelligence to read an insightful piece on the subject.

In Column Policy:

• India’s Crude Oil Import Cost Up By 48% So Far This Year
• India Explores UAE As Key LNG, LPG And Crude Supplier
• GAIL Continues To Seek Equity Stake In US LNG Project
• Oil India Opts For Deepwater Drilling As New Exploration Strategy
• Rs 144.7 Billion Profits Predicted: State-Owned OMCs In For A Remarkable Q2 Recovery

In Column Regulation: 

• Saudi, UAE Keen To Invest In India’s Refinery Sector
• Rising LPG Supply Cost Creates A Fresh Problem For Govt.
• Petrol Pump Operators’ Agitation Over MDR Issue
• India’s Trade Shift Makes U.S Major LPG Import Source

There are exclusive reports in other columns as well.