More Indian LPG carriers set to transit Hormuz; Iran-linked vessel appears en route 

Meanwhile, a sanctioned vessel linked to Iranian trade has signalled India as its destination – a development that, if completed, would mark a first.

Intelligence services and data provider Anfil Gas report that India-flagged vessels Green Sanvi, Green Asha, BW Elm, BW Tyr, and Jag Vikram have approached and are currently positioned near the Strait’s exit. All are laden, except Jag Vikram, which is in ballast.

If the vessels successfully transit, this would bring the total number of India-linked LPG carriers crossing the critical waterway to nine since the start of the conflict. So far, Nanda Devi, Shivalik, Pine Gas, and Jag Vasant have made the passage.

Pine Gas and Jag Vasant are expected to arrive at Indian ports between 26 and 28 March, according to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, carrying a combined 90,000 tonnes. Riviera has previously reported that Shivalik and Nanda Devi were transporting a similar volume.

“Indian-flagged vessels appear to be benefiting from successful diplomatic negotiations between New Delhi and Tehran,” Kpler noted in a recent report.

Anfil Gas data also show that Sea Bird, a US-sanctioned LPG carrier linked to Iranian trade, has signalled India as its destination. Some shipping databases indicate the vessel has recently been renamed Aurora.

According to Anfil Gas, if the vessel reaches India, it would be the first Iran-linked LPG carrier to complete such a voyage. Maritime tracking data show it transited the Strait of Hormuz on 17 March.

Riviera has previously reported on India’s LPG supply gap, driven by its heavy reliance on Middle Eastern volumes. Kpler data shows that March imports are currently hovering near a decade low of around 850,000 tonnes, down sharply from the 2.1M tonnes average recorded in the first two months of the year.

Anfil Gas data shows a further 12 VLGCs carrying around 525,000 tonnes of US-sourced LPG are en route to India. Two arrived over the weekend, another two are expected by the end of the month, with the remainder due in April.

“However, US-sourced volumes are insufficient to meet the needs of the world’s second-largest importer, where the residential sector remains a key source of demand,” Anfil Gas said.

Another LPG carrier, Panama-flagged Ocean Gas, is also en route to India after being loaded at Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port on 21 March, according to Anfil Gas data.