‘An Alarming State of Affairs’: War on Iran Tightens India's Cooking-Gas Stock.

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

As US-Israeli strikes on Iran hinder energy shipments through the key maritime chokepoint, supplies of cooking gas are dwindling across India, pushing restaurants to cut menus, reduce operating times and in some cases close completely.

Social media is flooded by video clips showing queues outside fuel suppliers across Indian urban and rural areas as anxieties over fuel supplies grow. Restaurant kitchens appear the hardest struck: the biggest crunch is in restaurant kitchens.

"The state of affairs is alarming. LPG simply cannot be found," says a official of the an industry group.

Most eateries run either on business-grade gas tanks or pipeline-supplied fuel, and the lack of supply are now being noticed across the country. "A lot of restaurants have shut down - some in Delhi, many in the south. People are switching to traditional burners and electric cookers to keep kitchens going."

Regional Impact

In Mumbai, local news say up to a 20% of hospitality businesses are already operating at reduced capacity as business fuel stocks dry up. In the southern cities of Bangalore and Madras, some restaurants say their cylinder inventory have dwindled with minimal reserves. "Coffee is the sole item we can prepare and no other dishes - it is truly dismal. Commerce will take a hit," says a restaurant owner in Bengaluru.

Restaurant managers are scrambling to adapt. "Menus are being curtailed, some are opening only for dinner and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that closures are fluctuating as supplies come and go. "Three restaurants in Delhi were shut yesterday - some have resumed operations. It's a changing landscape."

Retailers report a increase in sales of electronic cooking appliances, with some saying they are facing stockouts.

Authority's View

Yet, the officials maintains there is sufficient stock.

India has more than 300 million home fuel subscribers and authorities say stocks are being redirected to households as conflict-related stress from the war in the Gulf affect energy markets.

About 60% of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about nine out of ten of those shipments pass through the key maritime route, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now largely blocked by the hostilities.

The relevant department says that it directed refineries to boost LPG output for domestic use, raising domestic production by about a significant margin. Non-domestic supply is being prioritised for vital industries such as hospitals and educational institutions, while distribution will be "just and open".

"Unnecessary hoarding and accumulation has been sparked by rumors. The standard supply timeline for domestic LPG remains about two-and-a-half days," says a senior official.

Growing Panic

Now the concern is moving beyond kitchens. On online networks, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a lengthy, winding line of motorbikes outside a fuel station. "Anxiety is palpable," the caption reads.

According to reports from industry analysts, concerns about India's broader energy security may be premature.

India imports almost all of its crude oil. Around half of its crude oil imports - about millions of barrels a day - travel through the waterway, largely from Gulf countries.

Even if crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz are blocked, the deficit could be partly offset by higher imports of Russian petroleum, according to a sector expert.

Based on vessel tracking and expert analysis, increased 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.

"Tens of millions of Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only two major Asian economies as major buyers, those barrels remain a available backup," an analyst noted.

Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness

The key weakness is cooking gas, experts note.

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

Refineries can adjust processes to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a 10-20% boost would only lift domestic supply to about 47-50% of demand, leaving the country largely dependent on imports.

In short: "Petroleum shortage concerns can be partially mitigated through alternative sourcing. Refined product supply remains fairly adequate. Cooking gas supply is the key factor to monitor in the coming weeks."

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

An industry representative alleges exploitative practices.

"Suppliers are exploiting the situation - illegally trading canisters and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being accumulated and sold at a premium."

For now, India's petroleum stocks may be cushioned by worldwide shipping. But in homes across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next refill.