India LPG Shortage: Iran War Disrupts Cooking Gas Supplies

India is facing tightening supplies of cooking gas as conflict involving Iran disrupts energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil and gas transit route.

The shortages have begun affecting restaurants, businesses and households across the country, with industry groups warning that commercial users are particularly vulnerable as the government prioritises domestic consumption.

Rising pressure on restaurant sector

Restaurant operators say the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), widely used for cooking in India, has become increasingly uncertain.

Manpreet Singh of the National Restaurant Association of India said the situation was severe for many food businesses.

"The situation is dire. Cooking gas simply isn't available," he said, adding that many restaurants rely on commercial LPG cylinders or piped gas to run their kitchens.

According to the association, which represents about 500,000 restaurants, several establishments have temporarily closed while others are cutting operating hours or reducing menu options.

Some restaurants are also experimenting with alternative cooking methods such as coal, firewood and electric appliances in order to remain open.

In Mumbai, local media reports suggest that up to one-fifth of hotels and restaurants have either partially or completely shut down due to limited commercial LPG availability.

Business owners in southern cities including Bengaluru and Chennai have also reported dwindling gas supplies.

Haroon Sait, who operates an artisan bakery and restaurant chain in Bengaluru, said the shortage had significantly disrupted operations.

"We can only make coffee and nothing else – businesses are going to suffer," he said.

Restaurant operators say the situation is constantly changing depending on deliveries.

Some establishments temporarily shut for a day or two before reopening once new gas cylinders arrive, while others have limited service to evening hours only.

Electric cooker sales surge

Retailers in several cities have reported a sharp increase in demand for electric cookers as businesses and households seek alternatives to gas.

Some stores say stocks of these appliances have begun running low as buyers rush to secure substitutes.

Social media platforms have also shown images and videos of long queues outside gas distribution centres and fuel stations in different parts of India, reflecting growing public concern about supply.

Government says households are protected

Despite these reports, the Indian government has said there is no nationwide shortage of cooking gas for households.

Officials say the government has increased domestic LPG production and redirected supplies to ensure that residential users receive priority.

India has more than 300 million domestic LPG consumers, making the fuel a central part of the country's cooking infrastructure.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said refineries were instructed on 8 March to increase LPG output, raising domestic production by around 25%.

Authorities have also prioritised supply for critical services such as hospitals and educational institutions.

Sujata Sharma, a senior official in the petroleum ministry, said that panic buying and misinformation were contributing to public anxiety.

"Some panic booking and hoarding has been triggered by misinformation," she said, adding that the normal delivery cycle for household LPG remains about two and a half days.

Officials have also introduced stricter delivery controls, including a one-time delivery code system, to prevent diversion of cylinders.

Global energy disruption behind shortages

The immediate cause of the disruption lies in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea.

It is one of the most important routes for global oil and gas shipments.

About 60% of India's LPG is imported, and roughly 90% of those shipments typically travel through the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has disrupted maritime traffic through the area, affecting supply chains for multiple energy products.

India is particularly exposed because of its heavy reliance on imported LPG.

The country consumes about one million barrels of LPG per day but produces only around 40–45% domestically, leaving the remainder dependent on imports.

Analysts say refineries can increase LPG output slightly, but even with higher production, domestic supply may still fall short of demand.

Oil supplies remain more stable

While LPG supplies appear strained, analysts say India's broader oil supply situation remains relatively stable.

India imports roughly 90% of its crude oil, with around half of those shipments normally passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

However, some analysts believe disruptions could be partly offset by increased imports of discounted Russian crude oil.

According to maritime intelligence firm Kpler, additional Russian shipments moving across the Indian Ocean could reduce India's exposure to supply gaps caused by the Gulf conflict.

Industry experts say large volumes of Russian crude already stored on ships in the region could serve as a temporary backup for Indian refiners.

India is also a major exporter of refined petroleum products such as diesel and petrol, which analysts say indicates that domestic fuel supply remains relatively comfortable.

Wedding season complications

The gas shortage is also affecting social events and family gatherings during India's peak wedding season.

In the city of Nashik in western India, some families planning wedding celebrations say they are struggling to secure commercial gas cylinders for catering.

One family preparing for a wedding ceremony on 14 March was told by the event venue that it could not provide cooking gas for the catering service.

They were asked either to arrange several commercial cylinders themselves or to reduce the number of dishes served to guests.

Similar problems have been reported in other parts of the district as families search for cylinders during the busy wedding season.

Context: India's LPG dependence

Liquefied petroleum gas is one of the most widely used cooking fuels in India, particularly since government programmes expanded household access to cleaner fuels in recent years.

This growing reliance means that even short-term disruptions to imports can quickly affect supply chains.

While global oil trade patterns may help cushion India's crude oil needs, analysts say LPG supply remains the most vulnerable energy segment during the ongoing conflict.

For many restaurants, caterers and households, the immediate concern is less about global markets and more about a practical question: where to find the next cylinder needed to keep kitchens running.