Amid LPG shortage scare, electric kitchen appliance sales amplify:Induction cooktop sales up 30x in 2 days, gets sold out on Blinkit, Instamart

People are buying electric kitchen appliances like crazy online! Sales have exploded on websites like Flipkart and Amazon because people are worried that they might face difficulty in procurement of cooking gas (LPG) cylinders due to the supply disruptions caused by the ongoing war between US-Israel and Iran. This sudden rush to buy likes of induction cooktops shows that people want to be prepared in case there’s a problem with their gas supply. The main reason for this surge in sales is fear and panic buying. People are concerned that there might be disruptions in the supply of cooking gas so induction cooktops will prove to be handy.

Online Retailers See Massive Sales Jump: According to Amazon India spokesperson, sales have spiked by as much as 30 times in last two days! While, rice cookers and electric pressure cookers have seen a 4X increase in sales. Similarly, air fryers and multi-use kettles are also seeing a 2X increase in sales over a regular day. According to an earlier report by news daily, ‘TOI’, by last Tuesday, quick commerce platforms had a ready seen huge increases in induction cooktop sales: Quick Commerce Platforms: Swiggy Instamart, Blinkit, and Zepto have also seen a significant rise in electric cooktop sales. One executive had said to the news daily at the time that they had seen a surge of 10 times. BigBasket: Tata Group’s BigBasket had seen about a five-time increase in induction cooktop sales. They had even increased their monthly sales forecast to three times the original amount. Since yesterday, we have recorded more than 200 walk-in customers, while another 250 to 300 existing and new clients reached out through phone calls. Earlier, electric cooktops were largely purchased by hospitality outlets, but now even households are coming in a panic, fearing stoppage of LPG supply. -Amit Gupta, who owns Effects Kitchens and Hardware at Connaught Place, New Delhi said to PTI on Thursday Sold Out! The hype is so much that such items have been sold out on various quick commerce portals: Prices In India, induction cooktop prices typically range from ₹1,200 for basic 1200W–1600W models to over ₹9,000 for advanced models. Electric pressure cookers typically range in price from ₹3,500 to ₹14,000, depending on capacity and advanced smart features. While, air fryer prices generally range from ₹2,500 for entry-level models to over ₹15,000 for premium, high-capacity units. Domestic LPG cylinder prices rise to ₹1,800 in black market:Commercial cylinders being sold for ₹4,000 per 19 kg Due to the war between US-Israel and Iran, the shortage of LPG is increasing across the country. Long queues were seen at gas cylinder agencies. Additionally, black marketing of gas cylinders has begun. In Bihar, domestic gas cylinders are being charged up to ₹1,800. Meanwhile in Madhya Pradesh, commercial cylinders are being sold in black market for ₹4,000. Moreover, due to restrictions on commercial gas cylinder supply, hotels and restaurants have started cooking food on induction. The government has implemented the Essential Commodities Act to prevent black marketing but it has not affected the black marketers. Private gas agency operators, employees and brokers are also involved in this game. Additionally, those doing illegal gas refilling are also taking advantage of the situation.