EconomyGS3+ GS2

India Shifts LPG and LNG Imports to US as Strait of Hormuz Disrupts Gulf Supplies

Indian Express·2026-08-27· Read original

"India Shifts LPG and LNG Imports to US as Strait of Hormuz Disrupts Gulf Supplies"

Prelims Facts

  • •The Strait of Hormuz carries approximately 20–21 million barrels of oil per day, roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption.
  • •US LPG accounted for more than 73 per cent of India's total LPG imports in August during the Hormuz disruption.
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Key Terms

Strait of Hormuz

Narrow waterway between Iran and Oman; world's most critical oil and gas transit chokepoint.

LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)

Compressed hydrocarbon gas used primarily for cooking; subsidised for Indian households.

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Study Note

BackgroundCore Concept

Background

India imports roughly 85 per cent of its crude oil and a large share of its natural gas from overseas. The Gulf region, principally Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, has historically been the dominant source. Qatar alone has supplied as much as 1.2 million tonnes of LNG to India in a single month under long-term contracts managed through Petronet LNG, India's largest LNG importer.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, is the world's most critical maritime chokepoint. Approximately 20–21 million barrels of oil transit it daily, representing roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption. All major Gulf exporters depend on it. Partial bypass infrastructure exists, Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline and the SUMED pipeline, but neither can substitute for Hormuz at full volume. Iran's strategic leverage over the Strait, exercised through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN), has periodically threatened global energy flows, especially during periods of heightened US-Iran tension following the collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The Topic Explained

India's energy import structure has three main components: crude oil, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas, used primarily for cooking), and LNG (liquefied natural gas, used for power generation and industrial feedstock). Each has a different supplier mix and a different domestic price-sensitivity. LPG is subsidised for household consumers, so import cost increases feed directly into the fiscal burden on the government. LNG price spikes affect electricity generation costs and industrial competitiveness.

The United States has emerged as a major alternative supplier for both LPG and LNG, enabled by the shale revolution that made the US a net energy exporter. US LNG is sold on a free-on-board (FOB) basis, giving buyers flexibility to divert cargoes. However, the US is geographically much farther from India than Gulf suppliers, meaning freight costs and voyage times are significantly higher. …

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Related PYQs

2024GS1 Prelims

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

India does not import apples from the United States of America.

Statement-II:

In India, by law, the import of genetically modified transformed food is prohibited without the approval of the competent authority.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
CStatement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
DStatement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
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2024GS1 Prelims

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

Recently, Venezuela has achieved rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries.

Statement-II:

Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
CStatement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
DStatement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
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Practice MCQs

Economymedium

Consider the following statements regarding the Strait of Hormuz:

1.It is a waterway between Iran and Oman.

2.Approximately 20–21 million barrels of oil transit it daily, representing roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption.

3.Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline and the SUMED pipeline can fully substitute for Hormuz at peak volume.

4.India imports roughly 85 per cent of its crude oil from overseas.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A1, 2 and 4 only
B1 and 2 only
C2, 3 and 4 only
D1, 2, 3 and 4
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Economymedium

Consider the following statements regarding India's LPG and LNG imports during the Strait of Hormuz disruption:

1.The United States accounted for more than 73 per cent of India's LPG imports in August.

2.Qatar's LNG exports to India fell to zero in August.

3.India received no LPG from Saudi Arabia in July or August.

4.Qatar has historically supplied as much as 1.2 million tonnes of LNG to India in a single month.

How many of the above statements are correct?

AOnly one
BOnly two
COnly three
DAll four
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Economyhard

Match the following energy supply routes/infrastructure with their correct descriptions:

List I (Route/Infrastructure) — List II (Description)

A.Strait of Hormuz — 1. Overland pipeline carrying Saudi crude to the Red Sea coast

B.SUMED Pipeline — 2. Narrow waterway between Iran and Oman; handles ~one-fifth of global oil

C.East-West Pipeline — 3. Connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean; partial Hormuz bypass

D.INSTC — 4. Multimodal corridor linking India to Russia via Iran, partly designed to reduce Hormuz dependence

Which of the following is the correct matching?

AA-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
BA-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
CA-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
DA-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
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Economymedium

Consider the following statements regarding India's crude oil import diversification:

1.Russian crude imports reached approximately 1.87 million barrels per day in August, making Russia India's dominant crude supplier.

2.Venezuela re-entered India's crude import basket during the current supply disruption.

3.The UAE remained India's second-largest crude supplier after Russia in August.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A1 only
B1 and 2 only
C2 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
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Economyeasy

With reference to India's energy import structure, consider the following:

Assertion (A): A sustained disruption of the Strait of Hormuz raises India's energy import costs even when alternative suppliers are available.

Reason (R): The United States is geographically much farther from India than Gulf suppliers, resulting in significantly higher freight costs per cargo.

Which one of the following is correct?

ABoth A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
BBoth A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
CA is true but R is false
DA is false but R is true
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