LPG Fears Spark Induction Cooktop Shortage: Online Platforms Sell Out Amid West Asia Conflict – Latest Updates
Worries over cooking gas supplies have triggered a buying rush for induction cooktops across India. Conflicts in West Asia, hitting key import routes like the Strait of Hormuz, sparked fears of LPG shortages in cities from Delhi to Bengaluru. Quick checks show major sites running dry fast.
Stock Wipeout on E-Commerce
Source scans of Amazon, Flipkart, and Blinkit paint a clear picture of panic buying. Blinkit lists almost every model as out of stock, with quick delivery gone. Amazon holds slim picks like Kent or Usha; others vanished. Flipkart keeps some Kent units but flags many as unavailable.
Retailers confirm the surge. Tata’s Croma saw a threefold demand jump, CEO Shibashish Roy noting bulk buys as backups. Stovekraft (Pigeon and Gilma) reports fourfold online sales spikes weekly since tensions rose.
Roots in LPG Crunch
Long queues hit gas agencies as commercial LPG bookings halt, prioritizing homes with 25-day refill gaps. Restaurants cut deep-fries; households hoard cylinders amid war scares—90% of LPG imports pass through Hormuz. Prices are up Rs 60 to Rs 913 in Delhi.
The government says there is no real shortage: deliveries in 2.5 days and output up 25% via refinery boosts. Petroleum Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma stresses secure oil routes (70% non-Hormuz) and anti-hoarding drives.
Ministries assure ample stocks, and 24×7 control rooms are active. “No panic needed,” they say—focus on domestic first. Yet consumer jitters drive electric shifts, kettles too flying off shelves.
This highlights energy risks from global spots; alternatives like induction are gaining traction quickly. Watch for restocks as supply chains adjust.
