The Indian government has confirmed that all refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories and maintaining sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel, according to a briefing by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma addressed the Inter-Ministerial Briefing in New Delhi on recent developments in West Asia, providing detailed figures on fuel supply and logistics.
LPG Deliveries and Sales
Over the past four days, 1 crore 84 lakh LPG cylinders have been delivered, Sharma said. During the same period, 24,184 tonnes of commercial LPG were sold. Additionally, 2,18,005 kg of LPG cylinders were sold, including nearly 14,500 cylinders distributed through camps. These figures indicate robust supply chain operations and demand coverage.
Restrictions on Bulk Purchase of Petrol and Diesel
The government has temporarily restricted institutional, industrial, and commercial customers from buying petrol and diesel from retail outlets, directing them to source requirements from their own consumer pumps. Retail outlets have been instructed to sell up to 200 litres of High Speed Diesel (HSD) per customer per day to prevent bulk purchase, following reports of unusually high sales at retail outlets. Sharma noted that this shift led to supply issues at retail outlets.
Fertilizer Stock Position
Joint Secretary Bandana Preyashi of the Department of Fertilizers stated that the overall stock position of fertilizers in the country is normal. For Kharif season 2026, the re-assessed fertilizer requirement is 383.9 lakh metric tonnes (as per the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare). Farmers have already purchased 102.78 lakh metric tonnes of chemical fertilizers in the ongoing Kharif-2026, which is approximately 27 percent of the total requirement.
LNG Cargo and Shipping Updates
Director Opesh Kumar Sharma of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways reported that the LNG carrier DISHA, carrying 62,370 metric tonnes of cargo, safely transited the Strait of Hormuz today. The vessel is expected to reach Dahej port in Gujarat on Thursday. The Directorate General of Shipping is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with stakeholders. The Ministry has also facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 3,587 Indian seafarers, including 50 in the last 96 hours from various Gulf region locations.
Implications for Commodity Markets
For commodity traders and analysts, the government's assurance of high refinery capacity and adequate crude inventories signals stable domestic supply, reducing the risk of spot shortages. The restriction on bulk diesel purchases (200 litres per day per customer) suggests short-term demand management, which may impact diesel consumption patterns. The LNG shipment crossing the Strait of Hormuz amid West Asia tensions highlights continued operational risk in critical chokepoints, but successful transit provides some supply certainty. Fertilizer stock normalcy and 27% procurement of Kharif requirement indicate steady agricultural input availability.
| Commodity | Key Figures | Context |
|---|---|---|
| LPG cylinders delivered (4 days) | 1.84 crore | Robust distribution network |
| Commercial LPG sold (4 days) | 24,184 tonnes | Industrial/commercial demand |
| LPG cylinders sold (total) | 2,18,005 kg | Includes camp distribution |
| HSD retail cap | 200 litres/day/customer | Prevents bulk purchase |
| Fertilizer requirement (Kharif 2026) | 383.9 lakh MT | Reassessed by Agriculture Dept |
| Fertilizer purchased to date | 102.78 lakh MT | ~27% of requirement |
| LNG carrier DISHA cargo | 62,370 MT | Transited Strait of Hormuz |
Sources:
