Middle East war causes energy shortage, devastating India's glass manufacturing industry
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Middle East war has caused a severe natural gas shortage, forcing India's energy-intensive glass manufacturing industry to halt production and laying off thousands.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 13:51
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 14:01 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 25, 2026 at 00:35 (10h 34m after Collected)
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, reporter Li Chin-wei, New Delhi, 24th) The Middle East war has caused energy supply shortages. Under the decline of natural gas supply, the furnaces of India's glass manufacturing industry have shut down, leading to thousands losing their jobs, and some businesses temporarily closing doors.
The US-Iran conflict led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial waterway through which 20% of the world's oil and natural gas transportation must pass.
Glass furnaces must maintain a high temperature of 1000 degrees Celsius to sustain production, which relies on a massive amount of energy. With shipping through the Strait of Hormuz nearly at a standstill, the impacts of the global energy shortage continue to emerge, and India's glass manufacturing industry has suffered a severe blow.
The Economic Times pointed out that this should be the peak production season for the glass industry, but because the production process heavily relies on natural gas, under the shortage caused by the Middle East war, the Indian glass industry is in crisis, and thousands have already lost their jobs.
In a place famous for glass production, about a 3-hour drive from Delhi, it should be peak season, but many unemployed workers are seen on the streets near the factories.
Devendra Kumar, who works at a glass factory, told the Central News Agency reporter that before the natural gas shortage, many factories that usually employed 500 to 600 people began to massively lay off temporary workers; now, a factory of that scale only has about 100 jobs left.
Kumar mentioned that in addition to upstream glass factories, mid-to-downstream glass-related businesses are also affected, including stained glass artisans and shops selling glass crafts. They have no business and have had to close temporarily, waiting for the moment when natural gas supply resumes and prices stabilize.
Sarbjeet Singh, who also works at a glass factory, said in an interview with the Central News Agency that a large part of his factory's business is exporting products to foreign retailers. Usually, they start ramping up production in March to meet orders, but now due to the lack of natural gas, production has not only failed to increase but has dropped by over 30%.
Business Standard mentioned that if India's natural gas supply faces problems, industrial natural gas will be the first to be cut. As the Middle East war rages on, the energy shortage dilemma will significantly hit India's manufacturing industry. (Editor: Chou Yung-chieh) 1150424
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, reporter Li Chin-wei, New Delhi, 24th) The Middle East war has caused energy supply shortages. Under the decline of natural gas supply, the furnaces of India's glass manufacturing industry have shut down, leading to thousands losing their jobs, and some businesses temporarily closing doors.
The US-Iran conflict led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial waterway through which 20% of the world's oil and natural gas transportation must pass.
Glass furnaces must maintain a high temperature of 1000 degrees Celsius to sustain production, which relies on a massive amount of energy. With shipping through the Strait of Hormuz nearly at a standstill, the impacts of the global energy shortage continue to emerge, and India's glass manufacturing industry has suffered a severe blow.
The Economic Times pointed out that this should be the peak production season for the glass industry, but because the production process heavily relies on natural gas, under the shortage caused by the Middle East war, the Indian glass industry is in crisis, and thousands have already lost their jobs.
In a place famous for glass production, about a 3-hour drive from Delhi, it should be peak season, but many unemployed workers are seen on the streets near the factories.
Devendra Kumar, who works at a glass factory, told the Central News Agency reporter that before the natural gas shortage, many factories that usually employed 500 to 600 people began to massively lay off temporary workers; now, a factory of that scale only has about 100 jobs left.
Kumar mentioned that in addition to upstream glass factories, mid-to-downstream glass-related businesses are also affected, including stained glass artisans and shops selling glass crafts. They have no business and have had to close temporarily, waiting for the moment when natural gas supply resumes and prices stabilize.
Sarbjeet Singh, who also works at a glass factory, said in an interview with the Central News Agency that a large part of his factory's business is exporting products to foreign retailers. Usually, they start ramping up production in March to meet orders, but now due to the lack of natural gas, production has not only failed to increase but has dropped by over 30%.
Business Standard mentioned that if India's natural gas supply faces problems, industrial natural gas will be the first to be cut. As the Middle East war rages on, the energy shortage dilemma will significantly hit India's manufacturing industry. (Editor: Chou Yung-chieh) 1150424
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship from you is the power to protect press freedom
Download Central News Agency "First Hand News" APP, grasp the latest news instantly
Text, images, and audio/video on this website cannot be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or utilized without authorization.