Diet Coke Shortage Grips Major Indian Cities

A shortage of Diet Coke has swept through major Indian cities, leaving shelves empty and consumers scrambling for the sugar-free soft drink amid supply chain disruptions tied to the war in West Asia. The issue, which began surfacing in Mumbai last month, has now affected Bengaluru, Pune, parts of the Delhi-National Capital Region, Ahmedabad, Gurugram and Hyderabad, coinciding with peak summer demand for beverages.

The primary cause stems from delays in aluminum can shipments, as the Gulf region, which produces about 9 percent of the world's aluminum, faces blockades in the Strait of Hormuz since late February. This has trapped key supplies essential for packaging, exacerbating a global crunch that hits India particularly hard during the hot season when soft drink sales surge by double digits.

Diet Coke bears the brunt because it is sold exclusively in aluminum cans in India, unlike regular Coke, Thums Up or Pepsi variants available in plastic bottles or glass. Two Coca-Cola distributors confirmed that the company has begun rationing supplies and is not fulfilling some orders due to the shortage. "We've been placing orders but have been told there is a shortage due to the war,"...