Why has Diet Coke become costlier in India?

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted the supply of aluminium cans, forcing Coca-Cola to change the way it sources packaging for Diet Coke.If you've recently noticed that a can of Diet Coke costs more than before, you're not imagining it. The popular soft drink has become more expensive in India, and the reason lies far beyond the country's borders.The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted the supply of aluminium cans, forcing Coca-Cola to change the way it sources packaging for Diet Coke. As a result, the company has introduced larger, costlier cans, leading to a price increase for consumers.MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT DISRUPTS SUPPLY CHAINAccording to Reuters, Coca-Cola has increased the price of Diet Coke in India by more than 10% after supply chain disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.Two people familiar with the matter said the company has been forced to source larger aluminium cans from Southeast Asia as regular supplies remain affected. The strategy has not been publicly announced by the company.WHY ALUMINIUM CANS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLYThe disruptions are linked to the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping route used to transport aluminium cans and related raw materials to India. Commercial shipping through the route has been severely affected following the collapse of an interim truce in the Iran conflict. There are also concerns that the disruption could spread to other key sea routes.As supplies tightened, Coca-Cola had to look for alternative sources, which increased its costs.BIGGER CAN, HIGHER PRICEDiet Coke is sold mainly in aluminium cans in India, unlike many other countries where it is available in different packaging formats. Its most popular 300 ml can, priced at Rs 40, has become difficult to source.To deal with the shortage, Coca-Cola has started selling a 330 ml can for Rs 50. On a per millilitre basis, this works out to a price increase of around 13.6%.However, the company has not officially announced the pricing changes.Also, the report mentioned that at least one of Coca-Cola's Indian bottlers has also started offering Diet Coke in 200 ml glass bottles for a limited period. However, these bottles are priced higher than the canned version.WHY ONLY DIET COKE IS AFFECTEDDiet Coke has been hit harder because it is sold mostly in aluminium cans in India.By comparison, Coke Zero is available in both plastic bottles and cans, meaning its supplies have not been affected in the same way.Apart from Diet Coke, most Coca-Cola and Pepsi drinks sold in India are packaged in plastic or glass bottles as well as cans, making them less vulnerable to the current shortage.- EndsPublished By: Jasmine anandPublished On: Jul 24, 2026 17:09 IST