Global brewers operating in India are warning of price increases of 12-15% and supply disruptions as a gas shortage due to the Iran war drives up the cost of glass bottles and shipping delays hit imports of aluminium needed by can makers. According to The Times of India, beer makers on Tuesday warned of supply disruptions this summer due to cost increases and inadequate availability of packing material. The Brewers Association of India, representing global brewers Heineken, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Carlsberg, told Reuters that gas is essential to keeping furnaces and production lines running, and shortages have forced several glass bottle makers to partially or fully halt operations. India is especially vulnerable to fuel availability as the world's fourth-largest importer of natural gas, relying heavily on the Middle East for shipments, sourcing about 40% of its supply from Qatar. Iranian attacks have partially disrupted Qatar's export capacity, tightening gas availability for Indian manufacturers.
Piccadily Agro Industries Limited's Indri Single Malt Whisky, in collaboration with whisky community platform The Dram Club, unveiled Indri Rudhira on March 24, 2026. According to reports from The Hindu BusinessLine, this represents India's first single malt whisky matured in Pineau des Charentes casks - a fortified wine from the Cognac region of France. The launch marks a significant milestone in Indian single malt production, introducing an entirely new cask maturation style to the domestic market. As reported by Everywhere News, the release marks a pioneering effort in the Indian single malt landscape, combining smoke, fruit, and oak in a complex and balanced flavor profile.
The latest data from The Times of India reveals the full extent of cost pressures facing the industry. The Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies reported that a weaker rupee, along with higher cost of packing material and fuel and transport costs, are putting pressure on the industry. The Brewers Association of India confirmed that in the last three weeks, the conflict has pushed up costs by 10-12%. As per The Times of India, glass bottle prices have risen by approximately 20%, paper cartons have increased by almost 100%, and cost of materials have gone up 20-25%. Freight and logistics costs have also risen by 10%, creating a comprehensive cost structure challenge for manufacturers.
The glass bottle shortage is already affecting multiple sectors beyond alcohol. As reported by Reuters, some glass bottle vendors are warning their clients of reduced supplies and have increased their prices. Nitin Agarwal, CEO of Fine Art Glass Works in Firozabad, a glass-making hub in northern Uttar Pradesh state, said he has cut production by 40% at his glass bottle making factory due to gas shortages. His customers include many liquor companies as well as producers of juice and ketchup bottles. "We've cut production and increased prices by 17-18%," Agarwal said. The shortages have already affected India's $5 billion bottled water market with some producers increasing prices by 11% due to rising rates of plastic bottles and caps. An executive at Lotte Chilsung Beverage, one of the leading South Korean soft drinks companies, told Reuters that it has up to three months of inventory for plastic bottles and plastic materials, stating "The situation is serious."
According to market data from The Hindu BusinessLine, Piccadily Agro Industries Limited closed at ₹542.30 on Tuesday, representing a 3.03 per cent increase from its previous close of ₹526.35. The stock touched an intraday high of ₹551.15 and a low of ₹528.00, with a VWAP of ₹539.35. The positive market reaction reflects investor interest in the company's premium whisky offerings. As reported by Everywhere News, Piccadily Agro Industries Limited has successfully positioned itself as a leader in the Indian single malt whisky market, achieving the title of 'fastest growing single malt whisky brand' in 2024.
The collaboration between Piccadily Agro Industries Limited and The Dram Club reflects the growing appetite among Indian whisky lovers for distinctive and collectible single malts. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, The Dram Club, founded in 2019, is a whisky and spirits community platform with over 150,000 followers across Instagram and YouTube and has conducted more than 250 events across eight Indian cities. According to Everywhere News, Swati Sharma, Co-Founder of The Dram Club, stated that with Rudhira, they had the opportunity to collaborate on a unique expression with Indri - an expression that reflects both Indri's pioneering spirit and their commitment to pushing the boundaries of Indian single malt.
