‘The Situation is Dire’: War on Iran Constricts India's LPG Supplies.

The ripple effects of a military engagement being fought nearly 3,000km away are now being felt in India's kitchens.

As aerial attacks on Iran hinder energy transports through the Strait of Hormuz, stocks of cooking gas are tightening across India, forcing 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 metros and localities as concerns over fuel supplies grow. Commercial LPG users appear the most affected: the biggest crunch is in commercial eateries.

"The state of affairs is alarming. Cooking gas simply isn't available," says a representative of the a major restaurant body.

Most eateries run either on commercial LPG cylinders or direct gas lines, and the lack of supply are now being felt across the country. "Many restaurants have ceased operations - some in the capital, many in the southern region. People are turning to traditional burners and electronic appliances to keep their operations going."

Regional Impact

In Mumbai, accounts say up to a significant portion of hotels and restaurants are already fully or partly shut as cylinder availability dwindle. In the southern cities of Bengaluru and Chennai, some establishments say their cylinder inventory have shrunk with minimal reserves. "We can only make coffee and no other dishes - it is nothing less than pathetic. Commerce will take a hit," says a chain proprietor in Bengaluru.

Restaurant owners are seeking alternatives. "Offering lists are shrinking, some are opening only for dinner and reducing hours," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are varying as supplies come and go. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - some have resumed operations. It's a fluid situation."

Retailers note a surge in sales of electric cookers, with some saying they are running out of them.

Official Position

Yet, the government insists there is no shortage.

India has more than 30 crore home fuel subscribers and authorities say supplies are being prioritized to households as tensions from the war in the Gulf impact energy markets.

Approximately six out of ten of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about the vast majority of those shipments pass through the critical waterway, the strategic bottleneck now significantly disrupted by the war.

The petroleum ministry says that it ordered refineries to boost LPG output for household consumption, raising domestic production by about a significant margin. Business-grade fuel is being prioritised for vital industries such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "just and open".

"Some panic booking and stockpiling has been sparked by misinformation. The regular refill period for home fuel remains about under three days," says a government spokesperson.

Spreading Anxiety

Now the concern is spreading beyond kitchens. On online networks, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of scooters outside a petrol pump. "The panic is real," the text reads.

According to reports from industry analysts, concerns about India's broader fuel supplies may be exaggerated.

India imports the overwhelming majority of its oil. Around 50% of its petroleum shipments - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the waterway, largely from Middle Eastern nations.

Even if crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, the gap could be partly made up by higher imports of competitively priced oil from Russia, according to a industry commentator.

Based on vessel tracking and expert analysis, incremental Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, lessening India's effective gap from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million 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 available backup," an analyst noted.

Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness

The real vulnerability is cooking gas, experts note.

India consumes roughly one million barrels a day, but produces only less than half domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through the chokepoint.

Refineries can modify output to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only raise domestic supply to about under half of demand, leaving the country significantly leaning on imports.

In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be moderately reduced through varied suppliers. Fuel availability remains relatively comfortable. LPG availability is the key factor to monitor in the coming weeks."

What may be worsening the anxiety on the ground is not just limited availability but uneven distribution - and the usual problem of hoarding.

An industry representative states opportunistic profiteering.

"Suppliers are taking advantage of the situation - selling fuel on the black market and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and sold at a premium."

For now, India's energy imports may be protected by global trade flows. But in kitchens across the country, the more urgent issue is simple: how to get the next cylinder.