Oman replaces US as India's top LNG supplier in September

Oman has surpassed the United States as India’s top supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in September, according to a report. Data from Kpler shows that India imported 585,000 tonnes of LNG from Oman last month, a 11.6% increase from August, giving Oman a 27% share of total LNG imports. The shift marks a significant change in India’s energy sourcing as it continues to diversify its imports amid geopolitical disruptions in West Asia.

Nigeria became the second-largest supplier with 351,000 tonnes, though this was a 35% drop from the previous month. The US, which had led the supplier list in August with 848,000 tonnes, fell to third place after exports to India declined 59%, accounting for 16% of September imports. Qatar, once India's dominant LNG supplier with a market share of around 45%, dropped to sixth position, supplying about 94,000 tonnes during the month.

The UAE supplied 311,000 tonnes, while Angola exported 205,000 tonnes to India. The sharp decline in Qatari supplies follows disruptions caused by Iran's strike on Ras Laffan Industrial City in March, a key LNG production hub. India's overall LNG imports declined 14% month-on-month to 2.17 million tonnes in September from 2.5 million tonnes in August.

Natural gas is crucial for fertiliser production, industrial heating, power generation, and urban transportation. India imports nearly half of its LNG requirements, with about 60% of shipments from West Asian suppliers such as Qatar and the UAE transiting through the Strait of Hormuz. The government has increased efforts to diversify energy sourcing across LNG, LPG, and crude oil, adding supplies from countries including Canada, Algeria, the US, Mozambique, and Brazil to reduce exposure to geopolitical risks.