Gas
Oman replaces US as India's top LNG supplier in September
Oman became India's leading liquefied natural gas supplier in September as European buyers drew US cargoes away.
Key points
- Oman led India's LNG imports in September with 0.59 million tons.
- US shipments to India dropped by 60.7% to 0.34 million tons.
- Nigeria ranked second among suppliers despite a 35% month-on-month import decline.
What happened
According to Oilprice.com reporting citing Kpler tanker-tracking data published by The Indian Express, Oman emerged as India's primary liquefied natural gas supplier in September. Indian imports from Oman rose by 11.6% from August to reach 0.59 million tons.
This shift displaced the United States, which had maintained the top position since the onset of the Iran conflict. US shipments to India fell by 60.7% to 0.34 million tons in September. Nigeria placed second with 0.35 million tons despite a 35% decline from the previous month, while the United Arab Emirates ranked fourth with 0.31 million tons.
Why it matters
European buyers have increasingly attracted spot US LNG cargoes due to favorable arbitrage economics and low gas storage levels across the European Union ahead of winter. This competition has redirected American supply away from Asian markets.
Wood Mackenzie analysis indicates that Indian tender award prices climbed from between $16.8 and $18.8 per million British thermal units in early 2026 to $26.4 per MMBtu by September. Despite these rising costs, Indian demand remained robust.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
2.9% of electricity in India came from gas in 2024Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
