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

The shockwaves of a military engagement being fought nearly a significant distance away are now reaching India's kitchens.

As aerial attacks on Iran disrupt energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are shrinking across India, compelling restaurants to reduce offerings, close earlier and in some cases close completely.

Social media is filled with video clips showing crowds outside cooking-gas dealers across Indian metros and localities as worries over fuel supplies grow. Businesses appear the most affected: the biggest crunch is in food service establishments.

"Conditions are critical. Kitchen fuel simply cannot be found," says a representative of the National Restaurant Association of India.

Most food outlets run either on business-grade gas tanks or piped gas, and the shortages are now being experienced across the country. "Numerous restaurants have ceased operations - some in Delhi, many in the southern states. People are turning to coal and wood and electronic appliances to keep their operations going."

City-Specific Fallout

In Mumbai, accounts say up to a 20% of hospitality businesses are already completely or partially closed as business fuel stocks dwindle. In the southern cities of Bangalore and Madras, some establishments say their cylinder inventory have shrunk with little backup. "We can only make coffee and no food items - it is truly dismal. Commerce will take a hit," says a chain proprietor in Bengaluru.

Restaurant owners are seeking alternatives. "Offering lists are shrinking, some are skipping midday meals and operating solely in the evening," an industry representative says, adding that stoppages are changing as supplies come and go. "Three restaurants in Delhi were shut yesterday - a couple are back in business. It's a fluid situation."

Retailers note a spike in sales of induction stoves, with some saying they are facing stockouts.

Official Position

Yet, the government insists there is adequate supply.

India has more than a vast number of home fuel subscribers and officials say stocks are being redirected to households as conflict-related stress from the regional hostilities ripple through energy markets.

About a majority of India's LPG is imported, and about the vast majority of those shipments pass through the key maritime route, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now significantly disrupted by the conflict.

The oil ministry says that it instructed refineries to increase LPG output for household consumption, lifting domestic production by about a quarter. Commercial stock is being prioritised for vital industries such as hospitals and educational institutions, while distribution will be "just and open".

"Some panic booking and accumulation has been sparked by false reports. The regular refill period for household cylinders remains about 60 hours," says a government spokesperson.

Growing Panic

Now the concern is moving beyond kitchens. On social media, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a extended procession of scooters outside a gas outlet. "The panic is real," the description reads.

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

India imports almost all of its crude oil. Around 50% of its crude oil imports - 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 blocked, the shortfall could be partly made up by higher imports of competitively priced oil from Russia, according to a industry commentator.

Based on maritime intelligence and industry information, additional Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, narrowing India's effective gap 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.

Kitchen Fuel: The Primary Concern

The key weakness is cooking gas, analysts say.

India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only a minority share domestically, importing the rest - the vast majority through Hormuz.

Refineries can modify output to extract a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only lift domestic supply to about 47-50% of demand, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports.

In short: "Crude supply risk can be somewhat alleviated through diversification. Processed petroleum stocks remains relatively comfortable. Cooking gas supply is the critical issue to watch in the coming weeks."

What may be worsening the concern on the ground is not just scarcity but uneven distribution - and the common threat of stockpiling.

An industry representative claims exploitative practices.

"Retailers are taking advantage of the situation - illegally trading canisters and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being stockpiled and auctioned off."

For now, India's petroleum stocks may be buffered by international market dynamics. But in restaurants across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next cylinder.