In 2026, with global tensions in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz causing supply jitters, misinformation about "dry-outs" (total shortages) and massive price hikes often goes viral, leading to panic booking. Let's check the reality.

Total LPG carried by the two vessels

The ships Shivalik and Nandadevi together carry:

92,700 metric tons (MT) of LPG

First convert metric tons to kilograms:

1 metric ton = 1,000 kg

Therefore : 92,700 MT×1,000=92,700,000 kg

👉 Total LPG = 92.7 million kg

LPG in a domestic Indian cylinder

A standard domestic cylinder used in India contains: 14.2 kg of LPG

This is the typical household cylinder supplied by companies like Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum.

Number of cylinders that can be filled

Now divide the total LPG by LPG per cylinder: 92,700,000/ 14.2 = 6,528,169 cylinders (approx)

Rounded:

👉 ≈ 65.3 lakh cylinders

What this means for households

India has roughly 30+ crore LPG connections, mainly through schemes like Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.

Therefore, 65.3 lakh cylinders could supply roughly

65.3 lakh households for one month (assuming one cylinder per household).

Or: It could support about 2% of India’s LPG connections for a refill cycle.

Why these shipments matter during tensions

The arrival of LPG cargo from the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz is strategically important because:

A large portion of India’s LPG imports come from the Middle East. Any disruption in that route could affect domestic supply. So these vessels reaching the coast near Mumbai safely ensures:

• Continuity of LPG supply
• Stability in cooking fuel availability
• Reduced risk of price spikes.

 In simple terms,

Total LPG on ships: 92.7 million kg

LPG per cylinder: 14.2 kg

Possible cylinders filled: ≈ 65.3 lakh cylinders

That’s enough cooking gas for millions of Indian households.

Wing Commander BS Sudarshan is a former Indian Air Force pilot with over 12,000 flying hours. He participated in Operation Pawan and Operation Cactus before he transitioned to civil aviation. A passionate writer, he has authored six books, including "Hasiru Hampe", appreciated by S L Bhyrappa, and the latest "Evergreen Hampi". He is a regular contributor to the Verandah Club.