October 16, 2026: The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, has emerged as a major concern for India’s energy imports since the escalation of the West Asia conflict.

India depends on imported LNG to meet approximately half of its natural gas requirements. Before the conflict, nearly 60 per cent of those imports passed through the Strait of Hormuz, primarily from Qatar and the UAE.

The disruption has prompted Indian importers to secure cargoes from countries whose shipments do not depend on passage through the strait.

Oman has emerged as an important alternative because its LNG export facilities are located outside the critical shipping passage, allowing cargoes to reach international markets without navigating the affected route

Qatar, previously India’s largest LNG supplier, has been among the countries most affected by the disruption.

Before the West Asia conflict, Qatar supplied an average of around 0.95 million tonnes of LNG to India every month in 2025. However, its shipments have declined sharply since the conflict began.

The UAE has continued exporting LNG despite the risks associated with the region’s maritime routes. Qatar has also managed to export some cargoes through the strait, although its shipments to India remain substantially below pre-conflict levels

(Source: Economic Times)