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Indian Express
20 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
India's oil imports from US surged over 270% in first four months of year
India's oil imports from the US jumped over 270 per cent year-on-year in the first four months of 2025, underscoring Delhi's strategy of enhancing American imports amid trade pact negotiations and diversifying its sources of crude oil in a volatile geopolitical and geo-economic environment. Negotiations between India and the US for an interim trade deal by July 9 have entered their final phase. According to the latest available data with the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), India imported 6.31 million tonnes of US crude in January-April, sharply up from 1.69 million tonnes in the year-ago period. With this, the US accounted for 7 per cent of India's oil imports for January-April 2025, significantly higher than 2 per cent in the corresponding four months of 2024. In value terms, India's US crude imports in the first four months of the current calendar year stood at $3.78 billion, a big jump from around $ 1 billion in the year-ago period. It is worth noting that not just volumes, but oil price fluctuations also play a crucial role in determining the value of imports. India is stepping up imports from the US across categories to address America's key concern of a widening goods trade deficit. Under the likely trade deal, India is also expected to open up its market to a range of American goods – from cars and defence equipment to agricultural products. Official data show that while India's overall imports in April rose by only 19 per cent, imports from the US jumped 63 per cent to $5.24 billion, up from $3.20 billion in April 2024. This rise in imports narrowed India's goods trade surplus with the US to $3.1 billion, down from $3.4 billion. Expanding energy trade with the US would, to an extent, allay Washington's concerns about the balance of trade between the two countries. Also, from a strategic and energy security perspective, stepping up purchases of American oil helps India with some leverage with other supplying nations, whose supply volumes may be dented as a result, according to sources. The aim there would be to nudge them to offer oil to India at even better prices in a bid to protect their market share. Additionally, given the tensions in West Asia, sourcing oil from regions that can completely bypass the region's shipping routes is strategically important for India, which depends on imports to meet over 88 per cent of crude oil requirement. High import dependency and growing energy consumption make the country an attractive market for oil and gas exporters. President Donald Trump has been eyeing increasing energy exports to India and in February, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US, the President said that India and the US had agreed to take steps towards making Washington 'a leading supplier of oil and gas to India', which could help bridge the trade deficit between the two countries. Trump said that the US will 'hopefully' be India's top oil and gas supplier. The jump in overall imports in April – potentially signalling a broader trend – was driven by a sharp 270 per cent year-on-year increase in oil imports to 3.56 million tonnes. In March, too, US oil imports surged 247 per cent year-on-year to 1.26 million tonnes. Overall, the share of US crude in India's oil imports rose from 4.6 per cent in April 2024 to 12 per cent this year. That's higher than the 4.7 per cent recorded just a month earlier in March. Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, covering policy issues related to trade, commerce, and banking. He has over five years of experience and has previously worked with Mint, CNBC-TV18, and other news outlets. ... Read More Aggam Walia is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, reporting on power, renewables, and mining. His work unpacks intricate ties between corporations, government, and policy, often relying on documents sourced via the RTI Act. Off the beat, he enjoys running through Delhi's parks and forests, walking to places, and cooking pasta. ... Read More
Hans India
29-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
India's Cranberry Craze: From Exotic Import to Everyday Superfruit
Bengaluru: Once regarded as a niche Western ingredient, cranberries have found a vibrant new identity in India's kitchens, wellness routines, and even social media feeds. From being an exotic health remedy tucked away on supermarket shelves to now headlining fusion biryanis, laddoos, and lassis, cranberries are swiftly becoming India's latest superfruit obsession. This growing fascination is supported by hard data. According to figures from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), India's cranberry imports have witnessed a striking rise of 52.28% over the past two financial years—climbing from 2080 metric tons in FY 2021–22 to 3166 metric tons in FY 2023–24. The surge in US-origin cranberries is even more impressive, with imports growing by 61.85% during the same period, marking the United States as a leading contributor to India's cranberry boom. Fueling this growth is a focused and strategic push by The Cranberry Institute, the body representing US cranberry growers worldwide. From trade collaborations and food festivals to influencer partnerships and chef-led innovations, the organisation has taken a dynamic approach to reposition cranberries as a daily-use, functional food ingredient rather than a once-in-a-while indulgence. 'India is a growth market for US Cranberries. We have seen tremendous demand for both dried cranberries and cranberry juice in India as more Indian consumers are discovering this amazing berry,' said Mr. Sumit Saran, In-Country Marketing Representative for The Cranberry Institute. 'Dried cranberries are not only being used as an anytime snack but also as an ingredient in various western and ethnic dishes. US cranberries are easily available both with retail dry fruit sellers and on e-commerce platforms,' he added. What began as a health-focused curiosity—primarily for urinary tract relief—has now evolved into a mainstream dietary shift. Thanks to mounting clinical evidence around their antioxidant content, gut-friendly fibre, and heart-supporting polyphenols, cranberries have emerged as a powerful dietary supplement suited to the fast-paced, health-conscious Indian lifestyle. The Indian Express rightly noted their transition from niche import to 'superfruit status.' But it isn't just the nutritional profile that's fueling their popularity. It's how seamlessly they adapt to Indian palates. The berry's sweet-tart complexity is showing up in everything from cranberry coconut laddoos to cranberry murabba. In South India, dried cranberries are being used as a creative substitute for tamarind in pulihora, adding a rich colour and a unique sour-sweet profile. In the north, they're bringing new flavour and texture to paneer tikkis. Even festive menus are giving traditional sweets a cranberry twist. The professional culinary world has taken note too. Celebrity chefs like Manish Mehrotra have been championing cranberry-based dishes such as Cranberry Bhel Puri, praising the fruit for delivering "tang, crunch, and colour" in a single bite. Across India, high-end restaurants and premium caterers are beginning to feature cranberries in creative fusion dishes, with cranberry tasting menus and limited-edition desserts making appearances at seasonal food events. Social media has played no small role in this transformation. The #CranberryLife has found its way into thousands of reels and posts across Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Influencers are showcasing everything from cranberry cocktails to meal-prepped biryanis, while nutritionists are demystifying their benefits in easy-to-understand formats. This visual, community-driven appeal is helping cranberries carve a niche in India's evolving food identity. The shift is especially pronounced among millennial and Gen Z consumers, who are actively seeking out nutrient-dense, clean-label ingredients. In urban kitchens, dried cranberries now find their place alongside chia seeds and quinoa—sprinkled into smoothie bowls, protein oats, and trail mixes. As per data from Coherent Market Insights, the dried cranberry market in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10–15% between 2025 and 2032, an indicator of the fruit's staying power beyond trend cycles. As summer temperatures soar, cranberries are also becoming a refreshing staple in Indian households. Recipes such as cranberry chutney, cranberry lassi, and cranberry-spiked salads are offering a cool, tangy reprieve while ticking all the boxes for health and taste. From nutritional value to culinary versatility and rising consumer awareness, cranberries are no longer a foreign novelty. Backed by strategic promotion from The Cranberry Institute and strong demand signals from Indian consumers, the berry has planted firm roots in the Indian foodscape. The cranberry isn't just a trend—it's a testament to how global ingredients can thrive when they speak the language of local taste and wellness.
