Major Shift in India’s LPG Imports: United States Emerges as the Largest Supplier

¨     India’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) import pattern changed significantly in 2026, with the United States becoming India’s largest LPG supplier.

¨     The Middle East lost its earlier dominant share in India’s LPG imports.

¨     India imports LPG for household cooking fuel, industrial applications, and commercial consumption.

¨     LPG is traded in pressurised cylinders and bulk cargo shipments.

¨     Liquefied petroleum gas is primarily a mixture of propane and butane stored as a liquid under pressure.

¨     India is one of the world’s largest consumers of LPG.

¨     Traditionally, India’s LPG imports have depended heavily on Gulf suppliers due to shorter shipping routes and long-established trade links.

¨     In May 2026, the United States supplied more than 55% of India’s LPG imports.

¨     U.S. LPG shipments to India reached 666,000 tonnes in May 2026.

¨     This represented a sharp increase compared with the volumes recorded in February 2026.

¨     Before tensions escalated in West Asia around 28 February 2026, the Gulf region accounted for about 60% of India’s LPG consumption and up to 90% of its imports.

¨     Blockades and security disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz affected LPG exports from Gulf suppliers.

¨     Major exporters impacted included the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

¨     The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime passage located between Oman and Iran.

¨     It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

¨     The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints for the transportation of crude oil and liquefied gases.