🔗 Share this article ‘An Alarming State of Affairs’: War on Iran Squeezes India's LPG Availability. People queue up to buy cooking gas cylinders for domestic use in a major Indian city. The repercussions of a military engagement being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now impacting India's homes. As military actions on Iran disrupt energy shipments through the key maritime chokepoint, availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are tightening across India, compelling restaurants to reduce offerings, close earlier and in some cases close completely. Social media is awash with video clips showing queues outside fuel suppliers across Indian urban and rural areas as concerns over fuel supplies escalate. Businesses appear the most affected: the sharpest squeeze is in commercial eateries. "The state of affairs is alarming. Kitchen fuel simply cannot be found," says a representative of the a major restaurant body. Most eateries run either on commercial LPG cylinders or pipeline-supplied fuel, and the shortages are now being felt across the country. "Many restaurants have shut down - some in northern India, many in the southern states. People are turning to traditional burners and electronic appliances to keep their operations going." Regional Impact In a financial hub, media reports say up to a significant portion of hotels and restaurants are already completely or partially closed as commercial LPG supplies tighten. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some eateries say their fuel reserves have dwindled with little backup. "We can only make coffee and nothing else - it is nothing less than pathetic. Businesses are going to suffer," says a restaurant owner in Bengaluru. A eatery in a southern city which has shut down due to a lack of cooking gas. Restaurant owners are seeking alternatives. "Menus are being curtailed, some are skipping midday meals and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that closures are fluctuating as supplies wax and wane. "Several establishments in Delhi were shut yesterday - two have already reopened. It's a dynamic scenario." Retailers note a surge in sales of induction stoves, with some saying they are facing stockouts. Government Stance Yet, the officials insists there is sufficient stock. India has more than 300 million household consumers and spokespersons say stocks are being redirected to households as tensions from the Middle East conflict impact energy markets. About six out of ten of India's LPG is sourced from abroad, and about nine out of ten of those consignments pass through the key maritime route, the vital passage now largely blocked by the conflict. The petroleum ministry says that it directed refineries to increase LPG output for home needs, lifting domestic production by about 25%. Commercial stock is being allocated for vital industries such as medical and academic centers, while distribution will be "equitable and clear". "A degree of anxious stocking and stockpiling has been caused by false reports. The normal delivery cycle for household cylinders remains about two-and-a-half days," says a ministry representative. Growing Panic Now the anxiety is moving beyond kitchens. On digital platforms, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a lengthy, winding line of two-wheelers outside a fuel station. "Concern is genuine," the caption reads. India sources up to most of the crude it consumes, leaving it particularly vulnerable to interruptions in worldwide shipments. According to data from market experts, concerns about India's broader fuel supplies may be exaggerated. India imports almost all of its crude oil. Around half of its petroleum shipments - about 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the waterway, largely from Gulf countries. Even if petroleum transit through the Strait of Hormuz are hindered, the shortfall could be partly offset by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst. Based on maritime intelligence and expert analysis, additional Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, lessening India's effective deficit from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about a substantial volume of barrels a day. "Around 25-30 million Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only India and China as major buyers, those barrels remain a viable alternative," an analyst noted. Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness The primary concern is LPG, experts note. India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only less than half domestically, importing the rest - most of it through the Strait. Refineries can modify output to produce a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only raise domestic supply to about 47-50% of demand, leaving the country significantly leaning on imports. In short: "Crude supply risk can be somewhat alleviated through diversification. Refined product supply remains relatively comfortable. Kitchen fuel stocks is the real variable to track in the coming weeks." What may be intensifying the concern on the ground is not just limited availability but erratic supply chains - and the usual problem of stockpiling. An industry representative states opportunistic profiteering. "Retailers are exploiting the situation - selling fuel on the black market and selling them at a inflated price. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and auctioned off." For now, India's oil supplies may be protected by global trade flows. But in restaurants across the country, the more urgent issue is simple: how to get the next gas canister.
People queue up to buy cooking gas cylinders for domestic use in a major Indian city. The repercussions of a military engagement being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now impacting India's homes. As military actions on Iran disrupt energy shipments through the key maritime chokepoint, availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are tightening across India, compelling restaurants to reduce offerings, close earlier and in some cases close completely. Social media is awash with video clips showing queues outside fuel suppliers across Indian urban and rural areas as concerns over fuel supplies escalate. Businesses appear the most affected: the sharpest squeeze is in commercial eateries. "The state of affairs is alarming. Kitchen fuel simply cannot be found," says a representative of the a major restaurant body. Most eateries run either on commercial LPG cylinders or pipeline-supplied fuel, and the shortages are now being felt across the country. "Many restaurants have shut down - some in northern India, many in the southern states. People are turning to traditional burners and electronic appliances to keep their operations going." Regional Impact In a financial hub, media reports say up to a significant portion of hotels and restaurants are already completely or partially closed as commercial LPG supplies tighten. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some eateries say their fuel reserves have dwindled with little backup. "We can only make coffee and nothing else - it is nothing less than pathetic. Businesses are going to suffer," says a restaurant owner in Bengaluru. A eatery in a southern city which has shut down due to a lack of cooking gas. Restaurant owners are seeking alternatives. "Menus are being curtailed, some are skipping midday meals and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that closures are fluctuating as supplies wax and wane. "Several establishments in Delhi were shut yesterday - two have already reopened. It's a dynamic scenario." Retailers note a surge in sales of induction stoves, with some saying they are facing stockouts. Government Stance Yet, the officials insists there is sufficient stock. India has more than 300 million household consumers and spokespersons say stocks are being redirected to households as tensions from the Middle East conflict impact energy markets. About six out of ten of India's LPG is sourced from abroad, and about nine out of ten of those consignments pass through the key maritime route, the vital passage now largely blocked by the conflict. The petroleum ministry says that it directed refineries to increase LPG output for home needs, lifting domestic production by about 25%. Commercial stock is being allocated for vital industries such as medical and academic centers, while distribution will be "equitable and clear". "A degree of anxious stocking and stockpiling has been caused by false reports. The normal delivery cycle for household cylinders remains about two-and-a-half days," says a ministry representative. Growing Panic Now the anxiety is moving beyond kitchens. On digital platforms, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a lengthy, winding line of two-wheelers outside a fuel station. "Concern is genuine," the caption reads. India sources up to most of the crude it consumes, leaving it particularly vulnerable to interruptions in worldwide shipments. According to data from market experts, concerns about India's broader fuel supplies may be exaggerated. India imports almost all of its crude oil. Around half of its petroleum shipments - about 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the waterway, largely from Gulf countries. Even if petroleum transit through the Strait of Hormuz are hindered, the shortfall could be partly offset by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a refinery and oil markets analyst. Based on maritime intelligence and expert analysis, additional Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, lessening India's effective deficit from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about a substantial volume of barrels a day. "Around 25-30 million Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only India and China as major buyers, those barrels remain a viable alternative," an analyst noted. Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness The primary concern is LPG, experts note. India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only less than half domestically, importing the rest - most of it through the Strait. Refineries can modify output to produce a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only raise domestic supply to about 47-50% of demand, leaving the country significantly leaning on imports. In short: "Crude supply risk can be somewhat alleviated through diversification. Refined product supply remains relatively comfortable. Kitchen fuel stocks is the real variable to track in the coming weeks." What may be intensifying the concern on the ground is not just limited availability but erratic supply chains - and the usual problem of stockpiling. An industry representative states opportunistic profiteering. "Retailers are exploiting the situation - selling fuel on the black market and selling them at a inflated price. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and auctioned off." For now, India's oil supplies may be protected by global trade flows. But in restaurants across the country, the more urgent issue is simple: how to get the next gas canister.