Indian LPG Tankers Safely Cross Strait of Hormuz Amid Middle East Conflict; Price Pressures Begin to Surface in Domestic Markets

New Delhi: Even as tensions in West Asia continue to escalate, India has received a measure of relief on the energy supply front.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday confirmed that two Indian vessels carrying large quantities of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have successfully crossed the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and are on course to reach Indian ports shortly.

The vessels — Shivalik and Nandadevi — are transporting approximately 92,700 metric tonnes of LPG to India.

According to officials, the ships are expected to reach their respective destinations on March 16 and March 17. One vessel will dock at Mundra Port in Gujarat, while the other is scheduled to arrive at Kandla Port.

Their safe passage is being viewed as a significant development at a time when maritime routes in the Gulf region are under heightened security concerns due to the ongoing conflict.

However, the ripple effects of the nearly two-week-long conflict in the Middle East are increasingly being felt in everyday life across India.

Market trends indicate that supply disruptions and uncertainty in global shipping routes have begun influencing the prices of several essential commodities.

Retail traders across various cities report that the cost of multiple items has started to climb as supply chains show signs of strain.

The central government has urged citizens not to panic or indulge in hoarding, emphasising that the overall supply situation remains under control.

Authorities have appealed to the public to ignore rumours and avoid panic buying, which could worsen the situation.

Despite these assurances, signs of anxiety are visible in local markets. Prices of edible oils, including refined oil and mustard oil, have increased by ₹5 to ₹10 per litre in Delhi. Sugar prices have also seen a noticeable rise in recent days.

The supply disruption has not been limited to food items. Shortages of plastic granules, a key industrial raw material, have pushed up the prices of plastic-based products such as syringes, cannulas, plastic pipes and polythene packaging.

Manufacturers say irregular shipments of raw materials are affecting production costs.

Similarly, the footwear industry has also begun to feel the pressure. With PVC and resin becoming more expensive, the cost of shoe soles and upper materials has surged, leading to an estimated 25 per cent increase in the prices of shoes and slippers in some markets.

The impact is also visible in institutional food systems across different states. In Uttarakhand, reports suggest that food allocations have been reduced in certain facilities, affecting mid-day meal schemes as well as meals provided to students in medical colleges.

In Agra, traders report that the price of munakka (dry grapes) and sendha namak (rock salt) has risen sharply, in some cases by as much as ₹150 per kilogram within a short period.

In Varanasi, the community kitchen (Annakshetra) at the renowned Annapurna Temple has reportedly been shut temporarily due to supply constraints.

Meanwhile, in Jamshedpur, several companies and hostels have altered their food menus, replacing wheat-based rotis with rice to manage rising costs and supply challenges.

While the government maintains that the situation remains manageable, the developments highlight how geopolitical tensions in critical energy corridors such as the Gulf region can quickly translate into economic pressures felt by ordinary households thousands of kilometres away.

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