The US-Iran conflict continues to escalate as Trump said US forces had launched a naval blockade of Iran’s ports and coastal areas, and Iran responded with threats targeting ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The global energy crisis deepened and caused oil prices to soar.
India, which depends on the region for roughly half of its oil needs, 40% of its gas and almost 85-90% of its LPG needs, was also affected. While the country has managed to compensate for the oil shortage by sourcing supplies from elsewhere, the availability of LPG has been hit. The government has therefore prioritized LPG supply to households at the cost of restricting supply to commercial users such as hotels and restaurants.
Compared to sales of about 77,000 5 kg bottles in February before the crisis, daily sales in the last two to three weeks have exceeded more than 1,000,000.
Commercial cylinder prices are increasing twice
Domestic LPG prices have been revised once while commercial cooking gas rates have been revised twice in the last two months, hitting restaurants, eateries and other businesses harder.
The price of a 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder has increased significantly ₹60 in March. However, no rate revisions were made thereafter, so domestic LPG prices remained stable across the country.
Meanwhile, the price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder was first increased ₹144 in March, followed by another hike of almost ₹200 on 1st April.
Check LPG prices for the city on April 13
The recent changes in commercial LPG prices are part of the monthly price update by the state-run oil marketing companies, which include Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum. These companies are tasked with regularly adjusting aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and LPG cylinder rates based on price movements in global energy markets.
International oil prices have shot up as much as 50% since the start of the conflict due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused energy shortages, especially for import-dependent countries such as India.
India’s first LPG ship crosses the strait after the US-Iran ceasefire
Jag Vikram, an Indian-flagged LPG carrier, has crossed the Strait of Hormuz, the first time a ship from the country has sailed the disrupted route since the temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran.
Maritime traffic monitoring showed that the tanker crossed the vital waterway between Friday night and Saturday morning, PTI reported. On Saturday afternoon, the vessel reached the Gulf of Oman and continued its eastward journey, the report added.
The LPG carrier, managed by Mumbai-based Great Eastern Shipping Company, currently carries a cargo of 20,400 tonnes of LPG. , the vessel is scheduled to reach Mumbai on April 15, 2026, according to a media report.
