India’s energy import strategy is adapting in real time to the disruptions caused by the Strait of Hormuz crisis, with two significant arrivals at New Mangalore Port over the weekend providing a tangible illustration of the country’s efforts to diversify supply sources and maintain domestic energy security.
A US-flagged LPG carrier, the Pyxis Pioneer, docked at New Mangalore Port on Sunday, delivering 16,714 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas to Aegis Logistics — one of India’s leading LPG storage and distribution companies. The vessel had departed from the Port of Nederland in the United States on February 14, completing an unusually long voyage that reflects the increasingly intercontinental nature of India’s energy supply chain under current geopolitical conditions.
Russian Crude Cargo Originally Bound for China
The Pyxis Pioneer’s arrival was preceded by that of the Russian crude oil tanker Aqua Titan, which reached New Mangalore a day earlier carrying approximately 7.7 lakh barrels of crude oil. In a notable reflection of the fluid global commodity trade, the cargo was originally destined for China but has been rerouted to India — a pattern that has become increasingly common as buyers and sellers reconfigure trade flows in response to sanctions, geopolitical pressures, and logistical disruptions.
The Russian crude is being discharged through an offshore pipeline system connected to a jetty approximately 12 nautical miles from the coast, supplying feedstock to Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) — one of India’s major mid-sized refineries.
Hormuz Disruption Forces Supply Rethink
Both arrivals underscore the strategic importance of New Mangalore Port as an energy import gateway on India’s western coast, and highlight the growing role of non-traditional suppliers — the US and Russia — in filling the gap left by disrupted Gulf supply chains. India ordinarily sources the majority of its crude oil and LPG from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE, but the Hormuz closure has forced a rapid reassessment of sourcing strategies.
Aegis Logistics and MRPL Keep Supply Lines Open
For Aegis Logistics, the US LPG cargo represents an important contribution to maintaining LPG availability in south and southwest India amid a period of heightened supply uncertainty. LPG is critical for household cooking in India, with over 300 million connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana programme depending on consistent supply. The uninterrupted operation of import terminals and the willingness of international suppliers to reroute cargoes to India are playing a key role in preventing domestic shortages during the current crisis.
