Oman has overtaken the United States to become India’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in September, marking a significant shift in the country’s energy imports amid disruptions to shipping
through the Strait of Hormuz caused by the ongoing West Asia conflict.
The reshuffle comes as European buyers increasingly turn to American LNG, while India looks to diversify its supplies to offset disruptions to traditional sources. Despite the challenges and elevated international prices, India’s overall LNG imports have remained resilient.
Oman Replaces US As India’s Largest LNG Supplier
According to tanker-tracking data from commodity market analytics firm Kpler, India’s LNG imports from Oman increased 11.6 per cent month-on-month to 0.59 million tonnes in September.
Shipments from the US, meanwhile, declined 60.7 per cent from August to 0.34 million tonnes, pushing it to third place.
Nigeria occupied the second position despite a 35.1 per cent decline in supplies to 0.35 million tonnes. LNG imports from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rose 27.3 per cent to 0.31 million tonnes.
The rankings marked a reversal from August, when the US was India’s largest LNG supplier, followed by Nigeria, Oman and the UAE.
The shift comes as American LNG cargoes increasingly head towards Europe, where buyers have stepped up purchases amid disruptions to energy supplies from West Asia.
How The Hormuz Crisis Has Changed India’s LNG Supply Routes
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, has emerged as a major concern for India’s energy imports since the escalation of the West Asia conflict.
India depends on imported LNG to meet approximately half of its natural gas requirements. Before the conflict, nearly 60 per cent of those imports passed through the Strait of Hormuz, primarily from Qatar and the UAE.
The disruption has prompted Indian importers to secure cargoes from countries whose shipments do not depend on passage through the strait.
Oman has emerged as an important alternative because its LNG export facilities are located outside the critical shipping passage, allowing cargoes to reach international markets without navigating the affected route.
Qatar, previously India’s largest LNG supplier, has been among the countries most affected by the disruption.
Before the West Asia conflict, Qatar supplied an average of around 0.95 million tonnes of LNG to India every month in 2025. However, its shipments have declined sharply since the conflict began.
The UAE has continued exporting LNG despite the risks associated with the region’s maritime routes. Qatar has also managed to export some cargoes through the strait, although its shipments to India remain substantially below pre-conflict levels.
India’s LNG Imports Rise Despite Supply Disruptions
Despite the challenges posed by the conflict, India’s LNG imports have remained higher than last year’s levels, supported by strong demand from several domestic sectors.
According to the Kpler data, India imported 2.24 million tonnes of LNG in September, a decline of 12.7 per cent from August. However, imports were 7 per cent higher than in September 2025.
The broader trend also points to sustained demand. After declining in March and April, India’s LNG imports recovered and remained higher on a year-on-year basis in subsequent months.
Between May and September 2026, the country imported 11.87 million tonnes of LNG, an increase of 17.8 per cent compared with the corresponding period last year.
While Oman led the September rankings, the US remained India’s largest LNG supplier over the five-month period.
American shipments totalled 3.41 million tonnes, accounting for 28.7 per cent of India’s LNG imports during May-September. This represented an increase of almost 175 per cent from the same period in 2025.
Oman supplied 2.33 million tonnes during the period, registering a nearly 419 per cent year-on-year increase and accounting for close to 20 per cent of total imports.
Nigeria followed with 2.20 million tonnes, up nearly 169 per cent, giving it an 18.5 per cent share of India’s LNG imports.
The UAE accounted for 9.3 per cent of imports, with shipments declining 10.1 per cent to 1.11 million tonnes.
Qatar recorded the steepest decline among the major suppliers. Its shipments fell 90.2 per cent year-on-year to 0.41 million tonnes, leaving it with a share of just 3.4 per cent during May-September.
Why India Is Buying More LNG Despite High Prices
India’s continued LNG purchases stand in contrast to the approach adopted by several other major Asian importers, which have reduced demand in response to elevated international prices.
Countries such as China, Japan and South Korea have curtailed some purchases and shifted towards alternative fuels where possible. China has also continued importing Russian LNG, while India and most other major importers have stayed away from supplies linked to Russian LNG projects affected by Western sanctions.
India, however, has continued competing for cargoes in the spot market, even at higher prices, to meet domestic requirements.
Demand from city gas distribution networks and fertiliser manufacturers has remained particularly important, as these sectors have limited flexibility to substitute natural gas with other fuels.
Power generation and ceramics have also contributed to demand, with weather-related conditions and constraints affecting other energy sources increasing the requirement for LNG.
