Oman Surpasses US as India’s Leading LNG Supplier in September

Oman has overtaken the United States to become India’s top supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in September. This shift comes as India continues to adjust its energy imports due to ongoing disruptions in West Asia. Data from Kpler shows that India imported 585,000 tonnes of LNG from Oman last month, an 11.6% increase from August, giving Oman a 27% share of India’s total LNG imports.

Nigeria took the second spot with 351,000 tonnes, although this was a 35% drop from the previous month. The US, which led the supplier list in August with 848,000 tonnes, fell to third place as exports to India declined by 59%, accounting for only 16% of September’s imports. Qatar, once India’s dominant LNG supplier with a market share of around 45%, dropped to sixth place, supplying just 94,000 tonnes.

The decline in Qatari supplies follows disruptions caused by Iran’s strike on Ras Laffan Industrial City in March, a key LNG production hub and a major source of natural gas exports to India. Meanwhile, the UAE supplied 311,000 tonnes, while Angola exported 205,000 tonnes to India. Overall, India’s LNG imports decreased by 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 been increasing efforts to diversify energy sourcing across LNG, LPG, and crude oil, adding supplies from countries including Canada, Algeria, the US, and emerging LNG producers like Mozambique and Brazil to reduce exposure to geopolitical risks.

Analysts noted that while India’s crude oil imports are relatively insulated due to diversified sourcing, LNG and LPG imports remain more vulnerable to supply and shipping disruptions in the Gulf due to limited short-term alternatives.