India Facing LPG Cylinder Shortage: Restaurants and Businesses Hit Hard

India is currently witnessing concerns over a shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders in several cities, creating difficulties for restaurants, small businesses, and food vendors. The situation has emerged due to disruptions in global energy supplies, particularly linked to tensions and conflict in West Asia. These geopolitical developments have affected shipping routes and LPG exports from major suppliers in the Gulf region, from which India imports a significant portion of its cooking gas.

The shortage has been reported in major urban centres such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. Hotels and restaurants in these cities have complained that supplies of commercial LPG cylinders, especially the 19-kg cylinders used for cooking in large kitchens, have been delayed or temporarily halted. As a result, many eateries have struggled to operate normally, and some establishments have even warned that they may have to shut down if the situation continues.

Industry groups say the crisis has already forced several businesses to reduce their operations. In Mumbai, hotel associations reported that around 20 percent of hotels had temporarily closed due to a lack of cooking gas, while many others are operating with limited capacity. Small vendors, tea stalls, and cloud kitchens are also facing serious challenges because their daily work depends entirely on LPG supplies.

To manage the situation, the Indian government has instructed oil refineries and energy companies to prioritise the supply of domestic LPG cylinders used by households. Authorities have also increased the waiting period for booking a new cylinder to around 25 days to prevent panic buying and hoarding. At the same time, refineries have been asked to boost LPG production to ensure sufficient availability across the country.

Officials have stated that there is no major shortage for domestic consumers at present, as household supply is being protected. However, commercial users such as restaurants and hotels continue to face uncertainty until global energy supply chains stabilize.

Experts warn that if geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue, LPG availability and prices in India may remain volatile. Policymakers are therefore closely monitoring the situation while businesses and consumers hope for a quick resolution to the ongoing gas supply challenges.