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

The ripple effects of a conflict being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now being felt in India's kitchens.

As aerial attacks on Iran disrupt energy deliveries through the key maritime chokepoint, stocks of kitchen fuel are dwindling across India, forcing restaurants to shorten food lists, shorten hours and in some cases cease operations entirely.

Social media is awash with video clips showing queues outside fuel suppliers across Indian cities and towns as concerns over fuel supplies grow. Restaurant kitchens appear the worst hit: the biggest crunch is in restaurant kitchens.

"Conditions are critical. LPG simply is unavailable," says a spokesperson of the a major restaurant body.

Most restaurants run either on industrial fuel canisters or piped gas, and the lack of supply are now being felt across the country. "A lot of restaurants have closed - some in Delhi, many in the south. People are switching to coal and wood and electronic appliances to keep kitchens going."

Localized Effects

In a financial hub, local news say up to a 20% of hospitality businesses are already completely or partially closed as cylinder availability dwindle. In the southern cities of Bangalore and Madras, some establishments say their fuel reserves have shrunk with minimal reserves. "Our menu is reduced to coffee and no food items - it is truly dismal. Commerce will take a hit," says a chain proprietor in Bengaluru.

Restaurant managers are scrambling to adapt. "Menus are being curtailed, some are cutting lunch service and reducing hours," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are changing as supplies ebb and flow. "Three restaurants in Delhi were shut yesterday - some have resumed operations. It's a dynamic scenario."

Retailers observe a spike in sales of induction stoves, with some saying they are running out of them.

Authority's View

Yet, the government states there is sufficient stock.

India has more than a vast number of household consumers and officials say supplies are being reallocated to households as conflict-related stress from the war in the Gulf affect energy markets.

Approximately six out of ten of India's LPG is imported, and about nine out of ten of those imports pass through the key maritime route, the vital passage now largely blocked by the war.

The oil ministry says that it directed refineries to maximise LPG output for domestic use, lifting domestic production by about a significant margin. Business-grade fuel is being prioritised for essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions, while distribution will be "equitable and clear".

"Unnecessary hoarding and hoarding has been sparked by false reports. The regular refill period for domestic LPG remains about 60 hours," says a ministry representative.

Growing Panic

Now the anxiety is moving beyond kitchens. On online networks, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of motorbikes outside a fuel station. "Concern is genuine," the caption reads.

According to data from industry analysts, concerns about India's broader petroleum stocks may be exaggerated.

India imports 90% of its petroleum. Around 50% of its oil purchases - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from Gulf countries.

Even if petroleum transit through the Strait of Hormuz are hindered, the gap could be partly made up by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a industry commentator.

Based on vessel tracking and credible market sources, additional Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, narrowing India's effective deficit from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day.

"A large quantity of 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 ready fallback," an analyst noted.

LPG: The Real Vulnerability

The key weakness is kitchen fuel, experts note.

India consumes roughly one million barrels a day, but produces only 40-45% domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through the Strait.

Refineries can modify output to produce a bit more LPG, but even a moderate increase would only increase domestic supply to about 47-50% of demand, leaving the country largely dependent on imports.

In short: "Crude supply risk can be somewhat alleviated through varied suppliers. Fuel availability remains largely sufficient. Cooking gas supply is the critical issue to monitor in the coming weeks."

What may be intensifying the panic on the ground is not just limited availability but patchy deliveries - and the common threat of hoarding.

An industry representative claims exploitative practices.

"Distributors are taking advantage of the situation - black-marketing cylinders and selling them at a inflated price. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being hoarded and auctioned off."

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