India’s LPG production up 25% since supply maintenance orders; officials also urge refraining from panic booking Business News & Hub

India’s production of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) has increased 25% since the government instituted the supply maintenance order on March 8, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) told reporters at an inter-ministerial briefing on Wednesday (March 11, 2026).

Further, stating the ministry has observed instances of panic booking owing to misinformation about disruption in supplies, she sought to assure delivery cycles continue to adhere to the two-and-half-days timeline, stating there was no need to rush for booking cylinders.

LPG crisis updates on March 11, 2026

“It is because of these measures (that is, supply maintenance orders), India’s domestic LPG production has increased by 25% and all this domestic LPG is being directed to household consumers,” she stated.

Further, addressing the aspect of ongoing black marketing, she observed, “Feedback suggests some panic booking and hoarding has been triggered by misinformation.” The senior official added, “I would want to inform the normal delivery cycle of LPG remains [unaffected] at 2.5 days. Therefore, there is no need for customers to rush for booking cylinders, there is no need for panic booking.”

Ms. Sharma also told reporters that the government is working to expand coverage of Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) system to ninety percent of domestic consumers to address potential issues relating to diversion at the distributor level.

Concerns over a supply gautlet in cooking gas emanated following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Tehran amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

Essential to note though, according to government data, India imports 60% of its LPG requirements of which 90% is routed through the Strait of Hormuz.

Further to address the black-marketing paradigm, also present at the press briefing, C. Senthil Rajan, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) told reporters that the Secretary at the Union Ministry of Home Affairs held a meeting with Chief Secretaries and Director-General of Police of all states and union territories to “take proactive efforts in preventing hoarding and any black marketing that could be going on in states”. It was also suggested to institute a state-level spokesperson to “provide credible information to public”.

28 India-flag bearing vessels in the Persian Gulf

Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary at the Ministry of Shipping and Waterway told reporters that 28 vessels with Indian flags are operating in the Strait of Hormuz. Of these, 24 are in the Western part of the Strait of Hormuz and 4 in the Eastern part of the Strait.

The vessels on the Western part of the Strait have 677 Indian seafarers on board, whilst 101 were onboard vessels in the Eastern part. “We are actively monitoring the vessels for their security and safety,” Mr. Sinha informed.

He added that port operations across India remain stable. “Overall port operations across India remain stable. Ports have been directed to extend all necessary assistance to minimise hardships faced by exporters and ensure continuity of Exim trade.”

Crude oil, natural gas sources diversified, cargoes on the way

Ms. Sharma told reporters that India has diversified their sources for procurement of crude oil, with about 70% of the imports are now coming from routes other than the Strait of Hormuz, compared to 55% earlier.

She added, “As I speak, two cargoes are headed to India and would arrive within a few days further strengthening the crude supply position in the country,” she said.

About natural gas, she informed than of the total consumption of 189 million metric standard cubic meters per day (mmscmd), of which, about 47.4 mmscmd of supply was affected because of the forced majeure conditions. “Procurement through alternate routes and supplies is underway to offset the disruption,” she stated, adding, “Gas companies have procured LNG cargoes from new sources and two cargoes on their way to the country.”