India Avoids Gas Crisis Despite Hormuz Disruptions: LNG Imports Rise 15%, Qatar Supplies Drop 91%

New Delhi: India successfully avoided a major gas supply crisis during the Strait of Hormuz crisis by sharply increasing LNG imports from alternative suppliers between May and July. As geopolitical tensions disrupted energy shipments in West Asia, the country reduced its dependence on Qatar LNG and diversified imports from the United States, Oman, Nigeria, and Angola, ensuring uninterrupted fuel supplies for key sectors.

According to reports, India’s LNG imports increased 15.4% year-on-year during May–July, reaching 7.08 million tonnes. The recovery came after imports had declined by nearly 13% in March and April, when the West Asia conflict first disrupted global energy trade.

India, which meets nearly half of its natural gas demand through LNG imports, had traditionally sourced around 60% of its imported LNG through the Strait of Hormuz, with Qatar and the UAE being its largest suppliers. As the conflict intensified, India accelerated purchases from alternative markets to strengthen its energy security and maintain stable gas supplies.

The government prioritized LNG availability for city gas distribution (CGD), fertilizer production, electricity generation, and the ceramics industry, continuing purchases even as several major importing nations reduced buying due to high global LNG prices.

US Becomes India’s Largest LNG Supplier
Data from ship-tracking firm Kpler shows the United States emerged as India’s largest LNG supplier during May–July, exporting 2.19 million tonnes. It was followed by Nigeria (1.31 million tonnes), Oman (1.22 million tonnes), and Angola (0.80 million tonnes).

Compared with the same period last year, US LNG exports to India surged 252.8%, while imports from Oman jumped 340.9%. Imports from Nigeria and Angola also rose by 123.8% and 71.3%, respectively, highlighting India’s successful diversification strategy.

Qatar LNG Supply Drops 91%
During the same period, Qatar’s LNG exports to India plunged 91.3% to just 0.23 million tonnes, while UAE LNG supplies declined 34.4% to 0.55 million tonnes.

Although the UAE resumed limited exports in June and July by utilizing temporary maritime security clearances, disruptions continued across the Strait of Hormuz. Reports suggest that some LNG tankers switched off their transponders to avoid detection while passing through sensitive waters. Qatar also adopted similar measures, though on a smaller scale.

A temporary US-Iran peace agreement on June 17 briefly eased shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, but vessel movement slowed again after the agreement collapsed in early July.

Despite prolonged uncertainty in the region, India’s LNG import strategy and diversified sourcing helped maintain stable natural gas supplies, protecting the country’s energy needs and preventing a major gas shortage during one of the biggest disruptions to global LNG trade.