Over 50.8 lakh LPG cylinders delivered in a day, supply stays normal amid Hormuz fears
Synopsis
Despite the Strait of Hormuz closure rattling global energy markets, India delivered over 50.8 lakh LPG cylinders in a single day with zero dry-outs reported. The government is running 2,200+ daily raids and has suspended 72 distributorships — a rare simultaneous stress-test of both supply resilience and enforcement muscle.
Key Takeaways
50.8 lakh domestic LPG cylinders and over 73,000 small 5 kg cylinders were delivered on Tuesday, 29 April .
Online LPG bookings stand at 99% ; authentication code-based deliveries at 94% to curb diversion.
Auto LPG sales have nearly doubled to 353 MT/day in April, up from 177 MT/day in January–February.
More than 2,200 raids conducted on Tuesday; 72 distributorships suspended and 325 penalised so far.
Over 42,950 PNG consumers have surrendered LPG connections to ease demand pressure.
All refineries operating at high capacity; petrol and diesel prices remain unchanged .
More than 50.8 lakh domestic LPG cylinders and over 73,000 small 5 kg LPG cylinders were delivered across India on Tuesday, 29 April, with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry confirming that cooking gas supply remains normal and no dry-outs have been reported at any retail distributorship — even as global supply chains face pressure from the Middle East conflict and concerns over the Strait of Hormuz closure.
Key Delivery and Supply Figures
The ministry's statement noted that online domestic LPG cylinder bookings have climbed to 99 per cent, while authentication code-based deliveries — linked to consumers' registered mobile numbers to prevent diversion — have risen to approximately 94 per cent. On the commercial side, over 8,838 metric tonnes (MT) of commercial LPG, equivalent to more than 4.65 lakh 19-kg cylinders, was sold on Tuesday alone. The cumulative commercial LPG sale for April has reached 1,84,043 MT, equivalent to over 96.86 lakh 19-kg cylinders.
Auto LPG Sales Double Since January
Average auto LPG sales by public sector oil companies in April have touched 353 metric tonnes per day, against an average of around 177 metric tonnes per day during January and February — reflecting a near 100 per cent increase, according to the ministry. This sharp uptick suggests consumers and fleet operators may be shifting to alternative fuels amid uncertainty, though the ministry has not explicitly attributed the surge to panic behaviour.
Crackdown on Hoarding and Black Marketing
Enforcement operations are running at scale across the country. More than 2,200 raids were conducted on Tuesday as part of ongoing efforts to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG. Public sector oil companies have imposed penalties on 325 LPG distributorships and suspended 72 distributorships so far. On Tuesday alone, show cause notices were issued to 54 LPG distributors and penalties were imposed on nine distributorships. Notably, over 42,950 PNG consumers have surrendered their LPG connections via the MYPNGD.in website till Tuesday, which the ministry says will help ease pressure on LPG demand.
Fuel Prices and Refinery Operations
Retail prices for petrol and diesel remain unchanged, and adequate stocks of both fuels are available at all petrol pumps nationwide. All refineries are reportedly operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories. Local LPG production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption, the statement added. This comes amid India's broader effort to insulate its energy supply from the disruption caused by the Hormuz situation — a chokepoint through which a significant share of India's crude oil imports transit.
Government Advisory to Citizens
The ministry has urged citizens to avoid panic purchases of petrol, diesel, and LPG, and to rely only on official sources for information rather than circulating rumours. LPG consumers have been specifically requested to use digital booking platforms and avoid visiting distributors in person. The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring uninterrupted availability of petroleum products across the country.
Point of View
But the 100 per cent surge in auto LPG sales demands scrutiny — the ministry attributes it to growth, yet the timing, coinciding with Hormuz anxiety, suggests at least partial panic-driven demand. The suspension of 72 distributorships in a matter of days also signals that the diversion problem is more systemic than routine enforcement cycles would suggest. India's real vulnerability is not today's delivery count but its crude import dependency through Hormuz; if the closure extends, refinery throughput — currently high — will face a feedstock squeeze that no amount of raids can offset.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LPG supply normal in India amid the Middle East conflict?
Yes, according to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry, LPG supply is normal across India with no dry-outs reported at any retail distributorship as of 29 April. Over 50.8 lakh domestic cylinders were delivered in a single day.
Why have LPG distributorships been suspended?
The government suspended 72 LPG distributorships and penalised 325 others as part of a nationwide crackdown on hoarding and black marketing. More than 2,200 raids were conducted on Tuesday alone, with show cause notices issued to 54 distributors on the same day.
How has the Strait of Hormuz closure affected India's fuel supply?
The Petroleum Ministry has acknowledged supply chain disruption linked to the Strait of Hormuz closure but states that all refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories. Local LPG production has been increased to compensate, and petrol and diesel prices remain unchanged.
Why have auto LPG sales doubled in April 2025?
Average auto LPG sales by public sector oil companies reached 353 MT per day in April, up from around 177 MT per day in January–February — a near 100 per cent increase. The ministry has not explicitly attributed the surge to panic buying, though the timing coincides with Hormuz-related energy anxiety.
What should LPG consumers do right now?
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry has advised consumers to avoid panic purchases and use digital booking platforms instead of visiting distributors in person. Citizens are also urged to rely on official sources and disregard rumours about fuel shortages.
