India’s LNG Imports
Context:
Geopolitical tensions and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have significantly affected India’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imports from major Gulf suppliers such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Due to supply disruptions and rising energy insecurity, India has increasingly diversified its LNG imports by sourcing gas from countries such as the United States, Oman, Nigeria, Australia, and Russia.
The developments highlight India’s growing focus on energy security and diversification of energy supplies amid geopolitical instability.
About LNG
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been cooled to around minus 162°C to convert it into liquid form for easier storage and transportation.
LNG occupies much less volume than natural gas in gaseous form, making long-distance transportation through ships economically viable.
India depends on LNG imports to meet nearly half of its natural gas requirements, and around 60% of these imports traditionally passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
India imports LNG to meet rising domestic demand for power generation, fertiliser production, industrial use, and city gas distribution.
Qatar has traditionally been India’s largest supplier of LNG.
Strait of Hormuz and India’s Energy Security
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important maritime chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea.
Around one-fifth of global LNG trade and a significant share of global oil exports pass through this route.
Nearly 93% of Qatar’s LNG exports and 96% of UAE LNG exports transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
India’s heavy dependence on energy imports passing through this chokepoint makes it vulnerable to geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions in West Asia.
Significance
The disruptions have highlighted the importance of:
Energy diversification,
Strategic energy reserves,
LNG storage expansion,
And reducing dependence on a single region for energy supplies.
India is also considering expanding LNG storage infrastructure and exploring alternative energy supply routes, including a subsea gas pipeline project from Oman.
Diversification of LNG imports strengthens India’s energy security and reduces vulnerability to geopolitical shocks and supply disruptions.
Data for reference:
In 2025, India’s average monthly LNG imports from Qatar stood at 0.95 million tonnes, while imports from the United Arab Emirates averaged 0.27 million tonnes.
However, during March–April 2026, imports sharply declined to 0.06 million tonnes from Qatar and 0.13 million tonnes from the UAE due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
During the same period, imports from Oman increased significantly to 1.2 million tonnes, averaging 0.6 million tonnes per month.
India’s average monthly LNG imports from the United States increased from 0.24 million tonnes in 2025 to 0.31 million tonnes during March–April 2026.
Imports from Nigeria and Angola also rose sharply to 0.41 million tonnes and 0.24 million tonnes per month respectively.