Oman Becomes India's Largest LNG Supplier in September as US Volumes Fall

Oman replaced the United States as India's single largest supplier of liquefied natural gas in September 2026. Vessel-tracking data from Kpler show Indian importers received 0.59 million tonnes from Oman, an 11.6 percent increase from August. Shipments from the United States fell 60.7 percent to 0.34 million tonnes.

Nigeria ranked second with 0.35 million tonnes. The UAE supplied 0.31 million tonnes, up 27.3 percent. Qatar's share dropped to roughly 4 percent, or about 0.094 million tonnes. India's total LNG imports in September declined 14 percent from the previous month, yet the source mix shifted sharply.

The change coincides with two overlapping pressures. European buyers have absorbed additional U.S. cargoes as storage levels remain low ahead of winter, improving netback economics for American suppliers. At the same time, attacks and shipping risks in the Strait of Hormuz have raised the cost and uncertainty of cargoes originating in or transiting the Gulf. Indian buyers responded by increasing purchases from Oman, which does not require transit through the strait, and from other Atlantic Basin and West African sources.

Over the five months from May to September, the United States remained the largest cumulative supplier at 3.41 million tonnes, or 28.7 percent of India's LNG imports. Oman's volumes in the same period reached 2.33 million tonnes, nearly five times higher than the year-earlier figure. Nigeria supplied 2.20 million tonnes. The September snapshot therefore shows a monthly reordering rather than a permanent displacement.

Indian demand has stayed resilient. Importers have continued to bid for spot cargoes even at elevated prices, while some other Asian buyers reduced intake. The result is a more diversified supply basket. Before the current round of West Asia conflict, Qatar was India's dominant source. The U.S. and UAE alternated in second and third place. The September ranking places Oman first, Nigeria second, the U.S. third, and the UAE fourth.

The shift reduces India's immediate exposure to Hormuz disruptions for part of its LNG supply. It also increases reliance on a single non-U.S. supplier for the largest monthly volume. Whether the pattern persists depends on European winter demand, the trajectory of attacks on shipping, and the ability of Omani and Nigerian projects to sustain higher offtake. For September, the numbers are clear: Oman delivered the most cargoes, and U.S. volumes collapsed relative to the prior month.