Industrial activity across key sectors is regaining momentum as commercial LPG supplies improve and migrant workers return to factories. The recovery follows a recent decision to significantly increase LPG allocation to priority industries, helping ease disruptions caused by earlier supply constraints.
Sectors such as steel, automobiles, textiles, chemicals, and plastics identified as critical due to their labour-intensive nature and strong linkages with other industries are now seeing smoother operations. The enhanced allocation has improved fuel availability, enabling factories to ramp up production.
Industry leaders report a noticeable shift. Earlier, companies could only plan operations a day or two in advance due to uncertain supply, but now visibility has improved to nearly a week. With labour availability stabilising and raw material supply intact, many factories are operating at full capacity.
The automobile sector, in particular, has benefited from increased LPG allocation and its classification as a priority industry. While smaller suppliers are still recovering, larger manufacturers have managed to minimise disruptions by adopting alternative fuel options where necessary.
LPG plays a crucial role in several industrial processes, including brazing, paint operations, and food processing. As supplies improve, companies across these segments are gradually returning to normal production levels.
Electronics and food manufacturing companies have also reported steady progress. Although current LPG availability is still below pre-disruption levels, it is improving consistently and expected to rise further in the coming days. However, losses incurred during the past few weeks of disruption are unlikely to be fully recovered.
To address workforce challenges, many companies have introduced measures such as providing meals through factory canteens or offering cooking support. Earlier, limited access to LPG had disrupted food availability, leading to absenteeism and a temporary migration of workers. With these issues now easing, attendance levels have largely normalised.
In some cases, companies are also offering financial incentives to offset higher fuel costs and ensure worker retention. These combined efforts have helped stabilise operations, with industries now moving closer to pre-disruption productivity levels.