Why Has Diet Coke Become Expensive In India? The Reason Lies Thousands Of Miles Away

Published 24 July 2026 · india

Why Has Diet Coke Become Expensive In India? The Reason Lies Thousands Of Miles Away Published By, Last Updated: July 24, 2026, 23:18 IST The

Why Has Diet Coke Become Expensive In India? The Reason Lies Thousands Of Miles Away Published By, Last Updated: July 24, 2026, 23:18 IST The company is now sourcing larger aluminium cans, resulting in higher packaging costs that have been passed on to consumers. Coca-Cola Diet Coke cans on display for sale inside a shop. (Reuters photo) The ripple effect of the ongoing conflict in West Asia is now being felt by Diet Coke consumers in India, with the popular soft drink becoming more expensive due to supply chain disruptions linked to the regional tensions. The conflict has affected the availability of aluminium cans, prompting Coca-Cola to change its packaging procurement strategy for Diet Coke. The company is now sourcing larger aluminium cans, resulting in higher packaging costs that have been passed on to consumers.

Diet Coke Price Raised By 10% In India According to Reuters, Coca-Cola has raised the price of Diet Coke in India by more than 10% after supply chain disruptions caused by 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 its regular supply channels remain disrupted. The company has not publicly announced the change. Why Aluminium Cans Are In Short Supply The shortage is linked to disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for transporting aluminium cans and related raw materials to India. Commercial shipping through the waterway has been impacted following the collapse of an interim truce in the Iran conflict, raising concerns that disruptions could extend to other major global shipping routes.

With regular supplies constrained, Coca-Cola has turned to alternative sources for aluminium cans, increasing its packaging costs and contributing to the retail price hike. Why Only Diet Coke Is Affected Diet Coke has been hit the hardest because it is sold primarily in aluminium cans in India. With the popular 300 ml can (Rs 40) facing supply shortages, Coca-Cola has introduced a 330 ml can priced at Rs 50, effectively raising the per millilitre cost by around 13.6%, though it has not officially announced the change. Unlike Diet Coke, most other soft drinks are also sold in plastic or glass bottles, making them less vulnerable to the shortage. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk.