UAE reclaims top LPG supplier rank for India, edging out US in September
Synopsis
The UAE's LPG share in India's imports surged from 13% to 39% in a single month, erasing six months of US dominance that followed the Strait of Hormuz closure. With Gulf crude flows nearing pre-war levels thanks to military escorts and pipeline rerouting, India's energy supply chain is quietly stabilising — but the structural vulnerability of routing 90% of Gulf LPG through a single chokepoint remains fully exposed.
Key Takeaways
The UAE reclaimed its position as India's top LPG supplier in September 2026 , accounting for 39% of imports, up from 13% in August.
UAE shipped 547,000 tonnes of LPG — a 182% month-on-month increase — while US shipments fell 58% to a 23% share.
India's total LPG imports fell 4% in September to 1.39 million tonnes .
Gulf oil flows recovered to 92% of pre-war baselines by the final week of September, aided by military escorts and pipeline rerouting.
India imports 60% of its LPG needs, with 90% of that historically routed through the Strait of Hormuz .
Kuwait and Qatar ranked third and fourth as LPG suppliers to India in September.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reclaimed its position as India's largest LPG supplier in September 2026, overtaking the United States, which had held the top slot for the previous six months following disruptions to Gulf shipping routes caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Data compiled by maritime intelligence firm Kpler shows the UAE accounted for 39 per cent of India's LPG imports last month, a sharp recovery from just 13 per cent in August.
Key Figures Behind the Shift
The UAE supplied 547,000 tonnes of LPG in September — a 182 per cent jump from the 193,000 tonnes it shipped in August. The US, by contrast, saw its shipments fall 58 per cent from 323,000 tonnes in August, with its share of India's total LPG imports dropping from 53 per cent to 23 per cent over the same period. India's overall LPG imports dipped 4 per cent in September to 1.39 million tonnes compared with August.
Gulf Supply Chains Demonstrate Resilience
Kpler analysts noted that the physical market has shown more resilience than widely expected. According to the firm, combined crude volumes exiting the Gulf — excluding Iran — plus volumes from West Coast Saudi Arabia and East Coast UAE are back around pre-conflict levels of 18.5 million barrels per day. When diverted volumes are factored in, the figure is now approximately 100 per cent of pre-war baselines.
In the final week of September, daily oil flow from the Middle East reportedly reached 92 per cent of its pre-war baseline — a notable recovery seven months after the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
How Gulf Countries Are Bypassing the Strait
Analysts attribute the rebound in oil and petroleum product flows to a combination of logistics adaptations. Ships are reportedly being escorted with US military assistance, while shuttle super tankers are transiting the strait and transferring cargo to vessels waiting in nearby waters. Gulf producers are also increasingly using overland pipelines to route supplies around the chokepoint entirely. These workarounds have helped stabilise volumes, even as Iran continues placing restrictions on vessels attempting to transit the strait.
India's LPG Import Picture
India imports roughly 60 per cent of its total LPG requirements, of which 90 per cent had historically flowed through Gulf countries via the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic vulnerability that exposed was underscored when the UAE's share collapsed and the US filled the gap temporarily. Kuwait and Qatar also saw their LPG supplies to India rise in September, ranking third and fourth respectively among India's suppliers for the month.
With alternative routing mechanisms firming up and Gulf production stabilising, India's energy import planners will be watching whether September's supply normalisation holds through the winter demand season.
Point of View
Not structural fixes. India's exposure is stark: 90% of Gulf LPG used to flow through a single maritime chokepoint. The six-month US substitution was geopolitically convenient but came at a cost premium. The deeper question for New Delhi's energy planners is whether this near-miss accelerates investment in strategic LPG reserves and import terminal diversification — or whether the return to familiar supply chains breeds complacency again.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the UAE reclaim its position as India's top LPG supplier in September?
The UAE reclaimed the top spot after Gulf shipping routes partially recovered from the Strait of Hormuz closure caused by the Middle East conflict. Its share rose sharply from 13% in August to 39% in September, as alternative routing through pipelines and US military-escorted tankers helped restore supply volumes.
How long had the US been India's largest LPG supplier before September?
The US had been India's largest LPG supplier for the previous six months, filling the gap after Gulf supplies were disrupted by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Its share peaked at 53% of India's total LPG imports in August before falling to 23% in September.
What is the Strait of Hormuz, and why does it matter for India's LPG supply?
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf to global shipping lanes. India imports 60% of its LPG needs, and 90% of that had historically come from Gulf countries via the Strait, making any closure a direct threat to domestic cooking gas supplies.
How have Gulf countries managed to restore oil and LPG flows despite the Strait restrictions?
According to maritime intelligence firm Kpler, flows have been restored through a combination of US military-escorted convoys through the strait, shuttle super tankers that transfer cargo to vessels waiting outside the restricted zone, and Gulf producers increasingly routing supplies via overland pipelines.
Which other countries supply LPG to India?
Besides the UAE and the US, Kuwait ranked third and Qatar fourth among India's LPG suppliers in September 2026. Both countries saw their shipments to India increase compared to the previous month.
