At least 450 of more than 600 ceramics companies in Morbi (a manufacturing hub in the western Indian state of Gujarat responsible for roughly 80 percent of India's ceramic output) have been forced to shut down after the US-Israel war against Iran disrupted global fuel supplies and choked the Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit point for India's propane and natural gas imports. The closures have left around 200,000 workers without income, with more than a quarter returning to home states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, echoing the mass reverse migration seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exports worth an estimated $1.5bn annually — destined for the Middle East, Africa and Europe — have also been delayed or halted, dealing a serious blow to an industry valued at $6bn.