Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) has significantly increased its LPG production capacity following the US-Israel war with Iran and subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz for cargo movement. Speaking at the Maritime Seminar on the theme 'Maritime adversities and the role of stakeholders', organised by New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) in Mangaluru on Wednesday, Nandakumar V Pillai, Director (Refinery) of MRPL, announced that the company is now producing 45 lakh kg of LPG every day, representing an increase of more than 10 lakh kg per day from previous levels. The refinery has achieved this production boost by running at approximately 120% of its capacity and actively sourcing crude oil from different available sources.
As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, MRPL's LPG production has increased by almost 30% in March compared to pre-war levels. The company was producing around 33 lakh kg of LPG prior to the start of the war in the West Asia region, demonstrating the significant impact of geopolitical tensions on production capabilities. This substantial increase in output capacity reflects MRPL's operational flexibility and strategic response to supply chain disruptions caused by the ongoing regional conflict.
According to the report, MRPL's cargo operations at New Mangalore Port showed strong performance during the just concluded financial year 2025-26. The company's cargo contributed 23.4 million tonnes to the total traffic handled at the port, with MRPL receiving 346 vessels during the year. S Shanthi, Deputy Chairperson of New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), highlighted that the port handled a total cargo of 50.04 million tonnes during 2025-26, representing a major milestone in the port's history. She thanked MRPL for its contribution to achieve this milestone.
As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, Pillai emphasized that all economies across the world are facing the brunt of the war more than the actual conflict zone. He noted that crude oil prices have doubled after the start of war in West Asia, with economies around the world facing economic risks due to the war than physical risks. Speaking at the seminar, he said this represents one of the adversaries they are facing, highlighting the global impact of the geopolitical crisis on energy markets and supply chains.
According to the report, NMPA has received approval from the Central government for the redevelopment of berth no. 9 for handling liquid bulk cargo. The draft of the berth will be enhanced from the existing 10.5 metres to 14 metres, which will help handle more cargo. Additionally, tenders will be invited for the development of berth no. 17 at New Mangalore Port, as reported by The Hindu BusinessLine.
