Oman overtook the US as India’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in September, as disruptions to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz reshaped New Delhi’s gas imports. Overall, India’s LNG purchases were 7% higher than a year earlier despite a sharp decline in supplies from Qatar, according to commodity analytics firm Kpler. India imported around 590,000 tons of LNG from Oman during the month, compared with 340,000 tons from the US, which had been its largest supplier in August. Nigeria emerged as the second-largest supplier, followed by the US and the UAE. The decline in American shipments to India came as European buyers stepped up purchases ahead of winter, attracting LNG cargoes that might otherwise have gone to Asia. More than half of US LNG exports went to Europe in September, according to financial data provider LSEG, cited by Reuters. The shift also reflects India’s efforts to secure supplies outside the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been severely disrupted since the US-Israeli war with Iran began in February. Unlike Qatar and the UAE, Oman’s LNG exports do not pass through the strait. Qatar, previously India’s largest LNG supplier, saw its September shipments fall nearly 90% year-on-year. Iranian attacks on its Ras Laffan energy complex in March damaged production facilities, while restrictions on shipping continue to limit deliveries.
September LNG imports, however, declined from the previous month, partly reflecting seasonal demand fluctuations. Still, purchases over the May-September period rose nearly 18% from a year earlier, according to Kpler. The US remained India’s largest LNG supplier over those five months, followed by Oman.India relies on imports for around half of its natural gas requirements, with demand coming from fertilizer production, household gas distribution, power generation, and industries.India’s LNG demand is expected to remain resilient through the end of 2026, supported by growing city-gas consumption and declining domestic production, LNG and natural gas analyst at Kpler, Sonal Ranjan, told the Indian Express.
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