Kochi Faces LPG Cylinder Supply Crunch as People Rush to Book in Advance; Find Out Why

Consumers across Kochi began booking LPG cylinders well in advance after hearing about possible supply disruptions. According to a report by The Hindu, the sudden surge in demand came after rumours of an LPG shortage triggered by a recent strike by a section of workers. However, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) officials clarified that the LPG bottling plant is operating at full capacity and that there is no shortage of LPG cylinders in the city.

LPG Delivery Delays Across Kochi

Several LPG distributors, including Indane and Bharat Gas, have reported delays in cylinder delivery due to the rush of panic bookings.
Indian Oil officials, however, were quoted by The Hindu as saying that there is no LPG shortage in Kochi. The current issue is mainly due to panic booking and not an actual scarcity.

Authorities Urge People to Calm Down

Authorities and LPG suppliers have urged consumers to avoid unnecessary bookings and rely on official communication channels for updates. They said If consumers remain patient, delivery times will return to normal very soon. With the Indian Oil Corporation ramping up operations and local agencies working extra hours to clear backlogs, the situation is expected to stabilise within a few days.

LPG Prices In Kochi Today

Residents and businesses in Ernakulam are seeing a mixed trend in LPG prices today. While domestic LPG cylinder rates have remained unchanged, commercial cylinder prices have seen a slight upward revision this month, according to the latest data.

As of today, October 15, the 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder Price in Kochi or Ernakulam stands at Rs. 860, showing no change from the previous revision. Similarly, the smaller 5 kg domestic cylinder continues to retail at Rs. 320. However, commercial LPG prices in Ernakulam have recorded a modest increase this month. The 19 kg commercial cylinder is now priced at Rs. 1,602.50, marking a Rs. 15.50 rise, while the 47.5 kg commercial LPG cylinder has climbed to Rs. 4,002, up by Rs. 38.

The LPG cylinder prices in India see a rate revision as they are typically updated on the first day of each month. The commercial LPG cylinder prices have been hiked multiple times this year, which is likely impacting restaurants, hotels, and small-scale food businesses which rely heavily on bulk LPG supplies. Meanwhile, households can breathe a sigh of relief as domestic LPG rates remain stable for now, offering some respite from the inflationary pressures.