India is experiencing a significant decline in sugar and edible oil consumption, attributed to a shortage of commercial gas cylinders affecting restaurant operations. B.V. Mehta, executive director of the Solvent Extractors' Association of India, highlighted that this shortage has led to a nearly 9% decrease in edible oil imports, falling to 1.2 million tons in March. Manoj Yadav, who runs a roadside eatery, reported being unable to operate due to a lack of cooking gas, emphasizing the challenges faced by many restaurants during the peak summer holiday and wedding season. The country, which is the world's second-largest liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) importer, is grappling with its worst gas crisis in decades, as the government prioritizes household needs over industrial supplies. This situation could further impact the demand for sugar, which typically rises during this time of year, as many roadside tea stalls and sweet shops have also reduced operations or temporarily closed.