India's Textile Industry Grinds to Near Halt Amid LPG CrisisーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
Why It Matters
The LPG crunch threatens global garment supply chains and livelihoods, exposing India’s textile industry to geopolitical energy shocks and prompting urgent calls for fuel diversification.
Key Takeaways
- •LPG shortage forces half of Surat’s textile factories to shut.
- •Production days reduced from seven to five across remaining Surat mills.
- •Half‑million day laborers lose jobs, many flee Surat city.
- •India imports 60% of LPG, 90% via Strait of Hormuz.
- •Government prioritizes household LPG, leaving businesses without fuel.
Summary
India’s textile sector is grinding to a halt as a severe liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shortage curtails operations in Surat, the country’s western textile hub. The shortage, tied to disruptions in Middle‑East oil flows, has forced roughly half of the city’s 400 factories—about 200—to shut down completely, while the rest have cut operating days from seven to five per week.
The processors association reports each plant consumes around 13.2 tons of LPG monthly, and the government’s decision to prioritize household allocations has left businesses scrambling. Half a million day‑laborers have reportedly lost work, prompting an exodus from Surat. India imports roughly 60 % of its LPG, with 90 % of that cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the geopolitical vulnerability.
“Half a million workers are out of jobs,” said the association’s president, while a factory owner pleaded for government intervention or an alternative fuel source to keep mills running. The crisis also reverberates beyond India; a literary fair in Bangkok shows heightened interest in Middle‑East topics, reflecting broader consumer anxiety about energy and geopolitical stability.
Analysts warn that even if the conflict ends tomorrow, normalizing LPG supplies could take six to twelve months, prolonging production gaps and inflating global textile prices. The episode highlights the need for diversified energy inputs and strategic reserves to safeguard a sector that supplies a significant share of the world’s apparel.
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