New Delhi, Oct. 18 -- Washington's decision to hold off tariffs of up to 100% that a new US sanctions law would have triggered against India for buying Russian oil offers only temporary relief, people familiar with the matter said, as Indian refiners have already cut their Russian purchases and are paying more for the oil that replaced them.

Imports of discounted Russian crude have fallen by a third since July, industry executives said, and India's crude import bill rose 31.6% in September from August even though volumes grew only 14.2%, according to the petroleum ministry's Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC).

Refiners began reducing their exposure while the bill was still moving through Congress, before US President Donald Tru...