Oman overtakes US as India’s top LNG supplier in September

Oman surpassed the United States as India’s top supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in September, marking a shift in the country’s energy import patterns. According to Kpler data, India imported 585,000 tonnes of LNG from Oman last month, an 11.6% increase from August, securing Oman a 27% share of total LNG imports. Meanwhile, Nigeria became the second-largest supplier with 351,000 tonnes, though its shipments dropped 35% from the previous month.

The U.S., which led the supplier list in August with 848,000 tonnes, fell to third place after its exports to India declined 59%, accounting for just 16% of September’s imports. Qatar, once India’s dominant LNG supplier with a 45% market share, slipped to sixth place, supplying only 94,000 tonnes. The UAE and Angola contributed 311,000 tonnes and 205,000 tonnes, respectively.

The decline in Qatari supplies followed disruptions caused by Iran’s strike on Ras Laffan Industrial City in March, a key LNG production hub. Overall, India’s LNG imports dropped 14% month-on-month to 2.17 million tonnes in September from 2.5 million tonnes in August. Analysts noted that while India’s crude oil imports are relatively insulated due to diversified sourcing, LNG and LPG imports remain vulnerable to supply and shipping disruptions in the Gulf.

India has been diversifying its energy sources, adding supplies from countries like Canada, Algeria, the U.S., Mozambique, and Brazil to reduce exposure to geopolitical risks. Natural gas is crucial for fertiliser production, industrial heating, power generation, and urban transportation, with India importing nearly half of its LNG requirements.