‘A Critical Scenario’: War on Iran Squeezes India's Cooking-Gas Stock.

The repercussions of a war being fought nearly 3,000km away are now being felt in India's kitchens.

As military actions on Iran disrupt energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, availability of cooking gas are dwindling across India, compelling restaurants to shorten food lists, shorten hours and in some cases close completely.

Social media is flooded by video clips showing crowds outside LPG distributors across Indian metros and localities as anxieties over fuel supplies spread. Businesses appear the hardest struck: the sharpest squeeze is in restaurant kitchens.

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

Most restaurants run either on industrial fuel canisters or pipeline-supplied fuel, and the shortages are now being felt across the country. "Numerous restaurants have ceased operations - some in northern India, many in the southern region. People are switching to solid fuels and induction stoves to keep their operations going."

City-Specific Fallout

In Mumbai, local news say up to a 20% of hotels and restaurants are already completely or partially closed as cylinder availability dwindle. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some restaurants say their fuel reserves have shrunk with scarce alternatives. "Coffee is the sole item we can prepare and nothing else - it is nothing less than pathetic. Businesses are going to suffer," says a restaurant owner in Bengaluru.

Restaurant managers are rushing to adjust. "Menus are being curtailed, some are cutting lunch service and operating solely in the evening," an industry representative says, adding that stoppages are varying as supplies ebb and flow. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - a couple are back in business. It's a changing landscape."

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

Official Position

Yet, the government states there is sufficient stock.

India has more than 30 crore home fuel subscribers and officials say stocks are being redirected to households as tensions from the Middle East conflict impact energy markets.

About 60% of India's LPG is brought in from overseas, and about 90% of those imports pass through the key maritime route, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now significantly disrupted by the war.

The petroleum ministry says that it ordered refineries to maximise LPG output for domestic use, enhancing domestic production by about a quarter. Non-domestic supply is being prioritised for vital industries such as medical and academic centers, while distribution will be "just and open".

"A degree of anxious stocking and stockpiling has been triggered by false reports. The regular refill period for domestic LPG remains about under three days," says a government spokesperson.

Growing Panic

Now the worry is moving beyond kitchens. On digital platforms, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a lengthy, winding line of two-wheelers outside a fuel station. "Anxiety is palpable," the description reads.

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

India imports the overwhelming majority of its crude oil. Around a significant portion of its petroleum shipments - about 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from Middle Eastern nations.

Even if petroleum transit through the Strait of Hormuz are blocked, the deficit could be partly compensated for by higher imports of competitively priced oil from Russia, according to a industry commentator.

Based on maritime intelligence and credible market sources, increased Russian crude imports could reach around a significant volume of barrels a day, narrowing India's effective shortfall 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 India and China as major buyers, those barrels remain a viable alternative," an analyst noted.

Kitchen Fuel: The Primary Concern

The primary concern is kitchen fuel, experts note.

India consumes roughly one million barrels a day, but produces only a minority share domestically, importing the rest - most of it through Hormuz.

Refineries can adjust processes to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only increase domestic supply to about under half of demand, leaving the country largely dependent on imports.

In short: "Crude supply risk can be partially mitigated through varied suppliers. Processed petroleum stocks remains fairly adequate. LPG availability is the critical issue 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 opportunistic profiteering.

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

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