India Households Face a Looming Fuel Crunch as Iran Crisis Drags

Indian families face the prospect of an acute cooking gas shortage in the coming weeks, as war traps supplies of liquefied petroleum gas in the Persian Gulf, deepening an energy crisis already threatening to drive up inflation in the world’s most populous nation.

While a widening conflict has put the spotlight on crude oil and liquefied natural gas cargoes stuck behind the Strait of Hormuz, India’s most immediate crunch will be in LPG — a niche fuel, but one where a shortfall will hit tens of millions of homes. That can only be averted if cargoes that had been due in March start moving within days, according to people familiar with the matter. They asked not to be named as they are not authorized to speak to the media.