A Marshall Islands-flagged tanker carrying around 20,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has reached Gujarat’s Kandla Port after crossing the Strait of Hormuz, offering a crucial boost to India’s fuel supplies amid continuing disruption in one of the world’s most sensitive maritime corridors.
The vessel, identified as Symi, crossed the strategically important Strait of Hormuz on May 13 before arriving at Kandla in Gujarat’s Kachchh district, according to reports.
Its arrival comes at a time when maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly below normal levels due to the ongoing US-Iran conflict, which has entered its 12th week and triggered widespread concerns over global energy security and shipping disruptions.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is a vital chokepoint for global oil and gas trade, handling a substantial share of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Continued tensions in the region have forced shipping companies and energy importers to closely monitor vessel movements and supply chains.
India, one of the world’s largest energy importers, has already begun witnessing the economic impact of the disruption. Prices of commercial LPG cylinders have surged sharply after state-run oil companies raised rates by ₹993 per 19-kg refill and ₹261.50 per 5-kg cylinder earlier this month, affecting migrant workers, roadside eateries, canteens and small businesses across the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also referred to the growing energy crisis linked to the conflict, urging citizens to use fuel judiciously as the situation around Hormuz continues to strain global fuel supply lines.
The arrival of the Symi shipment coincides with India’s efforts to strengthen long-term energy security through closer cooperation with key Gulf partners, particularly the United Arab Emirates.
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During Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to Abu Dhabi, India and the UAE finalised several agreements covering defence cooperation, strategic petroleum reserves, shipping and long-term LPG supply arrangements.
Among the key agreements was a strategic collaboration between Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) to explore long-term LPG supply to India, where cooking gas remains a critical household fuel.
Another memorandum of understanding signed between ADNOC and Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) envisages potential storage of up to 30 million barrels of crude in India’s strategic reserves. The agreement also includes ADNOC’s participation in reserve facilities at Visakhapatnam and proposed storage projects in Odisha, alongside possible collaboration on LNG and LPG storage infrastructure.
Meanwhile, maritime activity around Hormuz continues to remain volatile. Ship-tracking data show commercial transit volumes through the waterway have fallen sharply compared to pre-conflict levels. Several tankers continue to face delays, diversions or heightened monitoring due to escalating geopolitical risks.
A separate tanker carrying Iraqi crude, identified as Karolos, was also reported to be approaching India after crossing the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, highlighting continued efforts by importers to maintain critical energy supplies despite regional instability.
The continued movement of fuel cargoes into India is likely to provide some relief to markets and policymakers as concerns over supply disruptions and rising energy costs persist.
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