New Delhi, Oct 2026 : Oman emerged as India’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in September, overtaking the United States as India continued efforts to diversify energy imports amid ongoing geopolitical disruptions in West Asia, according to a report based on Kpler data.
India imported around 585,000 tonnes of LNG from Oman during the month, marking an 11.6 per cent increase over August. The shipments gave Oman a 27 per cent share of India’s total LNG imports in September, making it the country’s leading supplier.
Nigeria ranked second, supplying around 351,000 tonnes of LNG to India. However, its shipments declined 35 per cent from the previous month.
The United States, which had topped India’s LNG supplier list in August with exports of 848,000 tonnes, slipped to third position in September. American LNG supplies to India fell 59 per cent month-on-month, accounting for around 16 per cent of total imports during the month.
The shift in the supplier rankings highlights the changing pattern of India’s LNG sourcing as global energy markets continue to face disruptions and uncertainty linked to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
The UAE supplied around 311,000 tonnes of LNG to India during September, while Angola contributed approximately 205,000 tonnes. Qatar, traditionally one of India’s most important LNG suppliers, dropped to sixth position, with shipments of about 94,000 tonnes.
Qatar’s decline comes amid disruptions affecting supplies from Ras Laffan Industrial City, a major LNG production and export hub. The facility was impacted following an Iranian strike in March, affecting a key source of natural gas supplies to India.
India’s overall LNG imports also declined during September. The country imported approximately 2.17 million tonnes during the month, down 14 per cent from 2.5 million tonnes recorded in August.
Natural gas remains a critical component of India’s energy economy, particularly for fertiliser production, industrial heating, power generation and urban transportation. India currently imports nearly half of its LNG requirements, leaving the country exposed to developments in international energy markets.
Around 60 per cent of India’s LNG supplies from West Asian producers, including Qatar and the UAE, are transported through the Strait of Hormuz, making shipping routes and regional stability important factors for energy security.
Against this backdrop, the government has stepped up efforts to diversify energy sourcing across LNG, LPG and crude oil. India has sought additional supplies from countries such as Canada, Algeria and the US, while also exploring emerging LNG producers including Mozambique and Brazil.
Analysts said India’s diversified crude oil sourcing provides relatively greater insulation from disruptions. However, LNG and LPG imports remain more vulnerable to supply and shipping constraints in the Gulf because alternative sources cannot be expanded quickly enough to fully offset disruptions.
