India Qatar LNG Imports Hit 8-Month High Amid Hormuz Risks

India’s imports of liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Qatar surged in October, reaching their highest monthly level in eight months as shipments from the Gulf country recovered following months of disruption caused by the West Asia conflict. The increase comes as Qatar reportedly adopts riskier shipping practices to move LNG through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

India received approximately 0.44 million tonnes (mt) of Qatari LNG by October 25, according to provisional data from commodity market analytics firm Kpler. This was nearly 370% higher than the volume imported during the whole of September, marking a significant recovery after supplies remained subdued for seven months.

Qatar has traditionally been India’s largest LNG supplier. However, disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz caused deliveries to fall sharply from March, forcing Indian importers to seek replacement cargoes from suppliers with access to alternative export routes.

The latest recovery has placed Qatar second among India’s LNG suppliers for October 1-25, behind the United States. The figures indicate that shipments through the Gulf are recovering, although the extent to which this trend can continue will depend on maritime security conditions and the availability of export cargoes.

Qatari LNG Supplies to India Rebound After Seven Months

Qatar’s LNG deliveries to India fell sharply after the West Asia conflict disrupted vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is a critical route for energy shipments from the Persian Gulf, and disruptions can affect the availability and delivery schedules of LNG cargoes.

Between March and September, India’s monthly LNG imports from Qatar averaged just 0.07 mt, according to Kpler data. This was considerably lower than the average of 0.95 mt per month recorded in 2025.

The October recovery represents a major change from that subdued pattern. By October 25, Qatari deliveries had reached 0.44 mt, compared with much lower volumes in the preceding months.

According to Sonal Ranjan, LNG and natural gas analyst at Kpler, Qatari deliveries to India had reached their highest monthly level since the conflict began. She said a sustained recovery could reduce the pressure on India to secure replacement cargoes from other suppliers, particularly as the country’s underlying import requirements remain firm despite elevated prices.

However, the provisional figures cover only the first 25 days of October. Final monthly totals may differ as additional cargoes arrive and shipping schedules change.

Why Qatar Is Taking Greater Risks in the Strait of Hormuz

Qatar depends on the Strait of Hormuz to export its LNG, leaving its shipments particularly exposed when security conditions disrupt maritime traffic. Unlike some producers that can use alternative export routes, Qatar has limited options for moving its LNG to international markets without passing through the strait.

Industry sources cited in the supplied report said Qatar had become more aggressive in using shipping practices that could help vessels navigate periods of heightened risk. These reportedly include switching off tanker transponders, a practice commonly described as “going dark”, and timing movements according to maritime security assessments.

Transponders transmit information that helps identify and track vessels. When ships stop broadcasting their signals, tracking systems may have greater difficulty following their movements. However, the absence of a signal does not establish a vessel’s location, purpose or safety, and such practices can complicate maritime monitoring.

The reported increase in Qatari shipments follows similar tactics attributed to the United Arab Emirates in recent months. These developments illustrate the challenges facing Gulf energy producers as they attempt to maintain exports while navigating uncertain security conditions.

The reported shipping practices have not been independently established for every cargo. Vessel-tracking data can provide evidence of movements, but interpreting gaps in tracking signals requires caution because a missing signal does not necessarily prove deliberate concealment.

Could Ship-to-Ship Transfers Help Qatar Move LNG?

Industry sources have also indicated that Qatar may be using ship-to-ship (STS) transfers to move LNG beyond the Strait of Hormuz. Such transfers are already used in some oil-trading operations, allowing cargoes to be moved between vessels before continuing towards their final destinations.

In a typical STS operation involving crude oil, one tanker carries a cargo for part of the journey and transfers it to another vessel in a designated area. The second tanker then transports the cargo onwards, potentially reducing the distance travelled by the vessel responsible for navigating a more exposed route.

For Gulf producers, this approach can separate the riskier portion of a voyage from the longer journey to the final market. In the arrangements described by industry sources, a supplier may assume the risk of moving the cargo through the Strait of Hormuz before transferring it to a tanker waiting in waters considered safer.

However, transferring LNG between ships is considerably more complex than transferring crude oil. LNG must be maintained at extremely low temperatures to remain in liquid form, requiring specialised cryogenic equipment, suitable hoses and carefully controlled operating procedures.

These technical requirements mean that LNG ship-to-ship transfers need specialised vessels, trained personnel and appropriate safety arrangements. The process cannot simply be treated as equivalent to conventional oil transfers.

Industry sources suggest that Qatar may be exploring such arrangements because it has few alternatives for exporting LNG from the Gulf. The approach could help maintain shipments ahead of the Northern Hemisphere winter, when demand for natural gas typically rises in several major markets.

Nevertheless, the scale and frequency of any Qatari LNG ship-to-ship transfers remain dependent on the available evidence. The reported strategy should not be interpreted as confirmation that all recent deliveries to India followed this route.

India’s LNG Imports Shift as the US Regains Top Supplier Position

While Qatari shipments recovered in October, the United States remained India’s largest LNG supplier during the first 25 days of the month. India imported 0.56 mt of American LNG during the period, representing an increase of 61.4% over the volume delivered during all of September, according to Kpler data.

The UAE ranked third, supplying 0.38 mt of LNG to India between October 1 and October 25. Its deliveries compared with 0.31 mt during the whole of September.

Oman occupied fourth place, with deliveries of 0.30 mt during the first 25 days of October, down from 0.58 mt in September. Nigeria ranked fifth, supplying 0.28 mt, a decline of 21.5% from the previous month’s total.

The figures show how India’s LNG sourcing has shifted as buyers seek to secure supplies from multiple regions. The United States has strengthened its position, while Qatari deliveries have rebounded and shipments from other suppliers have moved in different directions.

The changes also underline the importance of supply diversification. When a major shipping route becomes difficult to use, importers may need to rely more heavily on suppliers whose cargoes can reach them through less exposed routes, even if those alternatives are more expensive.

India’s Total LNG Imports Rise in October

India imported a total of 2.51 mt of LNG between October 1 and October 25, according to Kpler’s provisional data. This was 12.2% higher than the volume imported during the whole of September and 9.8% above the corresponding year-earlier level.

The increase indicates that India’s LNG purchases have continued to grow despite higher prices associated with the West Asia crisis. Demand from sectors that depend on natural gas has encouraged importers to compete for available cargoes, including supplies purchased through the spot market.

India uses natural gas in several important sectors, including city gas distribution, fertiliser production, power generation and ceramics manufacturing. Maintaining reliable supplies is important for industries that use gas as a feedstock, fuel or part of their production processes.

Importers have therefore faced a difficult balancing act: securing sufficient LNG to meet demand while managing higher procurement costs and uncertainty about delivery schedules.

Provisional data suggested that the broad supplier trends seen during the first 25 days of October could continue through the rest of the month, although the final import total might be slightly higher as additional shipments arrive.

Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters to India’s Energy Security

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime routes for energy supplies. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider international shipping network, making it a crucial passage for oil and LNG exports from several Gulf producers.

Before the West Asia conflict began in late February, approximately 60% of India’s LNG imports passed through the Strait of Hormuz, primarily from Qatar and also from the UAE, according to the supplied report.

Disruptions to the route can affect both the volume and timing of deliveries. Even when producers have LNG available for export, security concerns or shipping constraints can delay cargoes and force buyers to seek alternative supplies.

India’s dependence on imported natural gas makes these disruptions particularly significant. The country relies on overseas LNG to meet around half of its natural gas requirements, leaving importers exposed to changes in international prices, shipping availability and geopolitical developments.

When supplies from traditional Gulf sources become uncertain, Indian buyers may turn to producers such as the United States and Nigeria. However, alternative cargoes can involve different shipping distances, delivery schedules and prices, affecting the overall cost of procurement.

India’s LNG Imports Have Recovered Since March

India’s LNG imports fell in March and April, the first two months of the West Asia conflict, before beginning a sustained recovery on a year-on-year basis.

Between May and September, imports of LNG rose 17.8% year on year to 11.87 mt, according to Kpler data. The increase indicates that buyers continued securing supplies even as the conflict affected shipping patterns and pushed prices higher.

The recovery reflects demand from several sectors of the Indian economy, alongside efforts to source cargoes from suppliers less dependent on the Strait of Hormuz. It also highlights the importance of LNG in meeting India’s gas requirements despite the uncertainty surrounding international energy markets.

Higher imports do not necessarily mean that the supply situation has returned to normal. The cost of securing cargoes, the reliability of shipping routes and the availability of supplies from different producers remain important considerations for importers.

What the Qatari LNG Recovery Means for India

A sustained recovery in Qatari LNG deliveries could help ease pressure on India’s efforts to secure replacement cargoes from other markets. Qatar has traditionally been a major supplier to India, and a return to more consistent shipments could give importers greater flexibility when planning purchases.

However, the benefits will depend on whether shipments can continue safely and reliably through the Strait of Hormuz. The October rebound is encouraging from a supply perspective, but it does not remove the risks associated with the route.

India’s importers are likely to continue balancing supplies from Qatar, the United States, the UAE, Oman, Nigeria and other producers according to availability, prices and delivery schedules. Diversification can reduce reliance on any single source, although it cannot completely insulate buyers from a wider global energy disruption.

Demand from the fertiliser, power, city gas and industrial sectors will remain an important factor in determining India’s LNG requirements. If demand remains firm while shipping risks persist, competition for available cargoes could continue to put pressure on procurement costs.

Key takeaway: India’s Qatari LNG imports reached 0.44 mt by October 25, their highest monthly level since the West Asia conflict began, according to provisional Kpler data. The rebound comes as Qatar reportedly adopts higher-risk shipping practices and explores ship-to-ship transfers to maintain exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Whether the recovery can be sustained will depend on maritime security, cargo availability and India’s continuing demand for natural gas.