India paid an additional $1.6 billion or 23% more for importing natural gas in the first half of FY27 despite purchasing just 4.4% more of the hydrocarbon shipped in liquid form, as the West Asia conflict pushed up prices and disrupted supplies. India’s LNG import bill rose to $8.5 billion during April-September from $6.9 billion a year earlier, according to Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) data. The increase comes at a time when domestic gas production is falling and more than half of the country’s consumption is being met through imports.