India’s March crude runs remain high; future months to test crude sourcing strategy in Oil & Companies News 24/04/2026 India’s crude oil throughput in March remained robust as refiners had largely secured feedstock volumes for the month before the Middle East conflict began, but runs in the coming months will reflect refiners’ ability to secure alternative supplies amid disruptions to flows through the Strait of Hormuz, according to government data, sources and analysts April 22. While overall March runs slowed marginally year over year, state-run refiners kept utilization well above 100% of capacity as they rushed to maximize throughput and fill the gap from reduced Middle East cargo arrivals. Private refiners also maintained high utilization levels, although lower than those of state-owned refiners, oil ministry data showed. “All refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, while sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained. Domestic LPG production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption,” a petroleum ministry statement said April 21. India’s refineries processed 23.5 million metric tons, or 5.5 million barrels/day, of crude in March, down 1.7% from 23.9 million mt in March 2025, the data showed. In February, crude throughput totaled 21.9 million mt, or 5.7 million b/d. State-run refiners Indian Oil Corp., Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. — which together account for more than 61% of India’s total refining capacity — operated well above normal monthly levels in March, according to the oil ministry’s preliminary update on refinery runs. IOC ran at 117% capacity, BPCL at 112% and HPCL at 114%. In the private refinery segment, Reliance Industries Ltd. operated at about 95% capacity, while Rosneft-led Nayara Energy recorded a 100% run rate, according to the data. Pushing runs above average In March, none of India’s refiners carried out any planned maintenance work, oil ministry data showed. “We ensured higher levels of refinery operations for higher LPG production to avoid any panic reactions or speculative activities in the domestic market regarding the availability of cooking gas,” a senior oil ministry official said. India relies on the Gulf region for about 60% of its LPG consumption. The Middle East conflict has prompted urgent government intervention to secure alternative supplies and encourage the use of kerosene and coal in restaurants and other lower-priority sectors to ease supply pressures. India consumed 33.2 million mt of LPG in fiscal year 2025-26 (April-March), up 6% from 31.3 million mt in the previous fiscal year, according to provisional oil ministry data. Domestic production meets about 40% of the country’s LPG demand, with the remaining volumes imported. Reliance said March 10 that it aims to maximize LPG production at its Jamnagar refining and petrochemical complex to ensure ample domestic fuel supplies. IOC said the same day that it was taking steps to boost LPG output and prioritize its availability for domestic consumers and essential non-domestic sectors, such as hospitals and educational institutions. India has an average LPG yield of about 7.5%, according to S&P Global Energy CERA. LPG typically accounts for up to 10%-11% of total refining output when advanced processing methods are used. “LPG supply continues to be affected by the prevailing geopolitical situation. The supply of LPG to domestic households has b