Mumbai, May 2: Union Minister Prahlad Joshi announced a significant increase of ₹993 in commercial LPG cylinder prices on Saturday, attributing the rise to global factors. He highlighted that India relies on imports for over 50% of its LPG needs.
Speaking to reporters, Joshi stated, “This is an international issue, and our dependence on imports for more than 50% of LPG is why we are currently facing difficulties.” He assured that despite global instability, the government has maintained price stability for essential fuels, noting that domestic LPG, petrol, diesel, and piped natural gas rates have remained unchanged.
Joshi remarked, “The central government has kept the prices of petrol, diesel, and domestic LPG the same, and even the LNG (piped natural gas) prices are unchanged. However, this was an unavoidable situation.”
The average price of a commercial LPG cylinder (19 kg) has now risen to ₹3,071.50 in Mumbai, up from ₹2,078.50. In Mumbai, the price has increased from ₹2,031 to ₹3,024.
This marks the third price hike for commercial LPG since February 28, coinciding with escalating tensions in Iran. The first increase occurred in March, with a rise of ₹144, followed by another hike of nearly ₹200 on April 1.
These frequent price changes are expected to significantly impact restaurants, eateries, and other commercial establishments that heavily rely on LPG for their daily operations. Industry experts suggest that food-related businesses may pass on this additional cost to consumers, potentially making dining out and food delivery more expensive in the coming weeks.