Sales of electric cooktops sizzle as LPG flameout worries families

Amid a nationwide LPG shortage due to the war in West Asia, e-commerce platforms and retailers in major cities have seen a surge in demand for induction cooktops as people look for replacements due to gas supply disruption.

While prices of electric stoves rose, supplies remained largely available on e-commerce platforms and retail stores, although stocks fell rapidly.

Commenting on the increase in demand, Rajendra Gandhi, Managing Director of home appliance company Stovekraft, which owns the cookware brand Pigeon, said that since the onset of the ongoing tensions, the firm has seen a four-fold increase in average weekly sales of induction cooktops across its e-commerce channels.

“We currently manufacture around two lakh units of induction cookers at our manufacturing facility in Harohalli, Karnataka and we plan to increase this in the next financial year,” he said.

In Mumbai, the price of induction cooktops from various brands such as Pigeon and Prestige has increased by 10% to 30% since 2024 in retail stores.

out of stock

Some home appliance stores in Chennai said they were out of stock of cookers. Showrooms in Anna Salai, Adyar, Choolaimedu and T. Nagar areas of the city were ready to receive orders for home delivery only the next day. Some stores that continue to hold stock said they reported a sharp increase in sales in the past two days.

Chennai resident Amudha Sundar tried to buy an induction cooktop on Tuesday, but her efforts proved futile. On Wednesday morning, he and his son went to a store far from his home and eventually purchased the stove. Many such residents said they are rushing to buy induction cooktops as a backup plan in case their homes run out of gas cylinders.

A. Rayappa, who runs a white goods store, said more than 100 induction cooktops were sold in the last two days. “This is unprecedented. I have not seen this before. I have already placed an order for the next day, but dealers are slowly increasing prices,” he added.

S. Alarmelmangai, a resident of the area, said that the LPG cylinder is usually enough for a month for their family of six, including senior citizens and their children. “The existing cylinder has been in use for the last 21 days. I tried to book a few days ago and did not receive any message. So, I did not want to try my luck and bought an induction cooker for ₹ 2,000 yesterday. It is expensive but I am left with no other option. We have to have a backup plan,” he added.

S. Jayaprakash, an owner of a white goods store in Chennai, said that sales of induction cooktops have not been high in the last two years. “But in the last two days, 40 units were sold from the store. These stoves are available in the range of ₹1,500-₹3,500. I placed an order with the manufacturers and they promised to deliver the stocks within four days,” he added.

J. Sathish, Managing Partner of J. Engineering Agency, which sells kitchen appliances in Coimbatore, said the demand for single and double burner induction cooktops has more than doubled. “Today, the brand is not a problem for the consumer. Demand has increased in online and offline sales. We used to sell 5-6 units a day, now we sell 12-13 units,” he said.

According to Sathish Nair, president of EssEmm Corporation, which manufactures kitchen appliances, corporate customers are buying every product available. “Almost 95 percent of our devices are powered by electricity. Customers are buying in panic today. They buy whatever we have. Most of our stocks are for customized projects. 30 to 40 percent of the remaining is sold out. Since we need to increase production, our need for working capital has also increased,” he said.

A leading Delhi-based home kitchen appliance manufacturer, who requested anonymity, said there is a lot of stock in stock and the manufacturer is yet to feel the impact of the sudden increase in demand for electric kettles or similar appliances.

Prices of induction stoves in Kolkata have increased by at least ₹400 to ₹500 in the last few days. Many distributors and retailers dealing with these stoves said they have witnessed a three-fold increase in demand for the device.

A leading retail chain selling induction stoves in Kolkata said that while it was selling 40 to 50 induction stoves per day, daily sales have increased by around 130 to 150 per day since the beginning of the week.

mud furnaces for sale

Oven shops with locally made stoves and stores selling earthen mud ovens have also popped up all over the city. People are also flocking to buy coal and kerosene to keep small restaurants and home kitchens running.

Mohammad Shabir, who owns a store in Chandni Chowk area of ​​Patna, said that induction cookers and electric cookers are in high demand and people buy these appliances without bargaining on the price.

“Due to shortage of LPG cylinders, people are now buying electric cooking stoves. I sold 25 induction cookers today, which is the highest ever for my shop. Now I am also running out of stock and have asked my supplier to deliver as soon as possible to meet the demands,” said Mr. Shabir.

Bipin Pandey, who works at a device in Indira Nagar, Lucknow, is very happy that her business is booming. He attributes this good fortune to the increasing demand for induction cooktops. “I sold 25 induction cookers in the last five days, which made a good profit. Off-season is a good time for us,” said Mr. Pandey.

Supply constraint in Guwahati

Sales of induction cookers and microwave ovens have risen by at least 50% since the government issued a gas supply warning a few days ago due to the war in West Asia. On the other hand, there is a shortage of these kitchen appliances in Guwahati, the economic hub of the Northeast, as the appliances available from manufacturers and dealers are being sold at an unprecedented rate in metros and other “mainland” cities.

“We are selling around 15-16 units of induction cookers and microwaves compared to 9-10 units a week ago. But the main problem is that we are running out of stocks and companies are unable to ship their products as the demand in and around the manufacturing centers is very high,” said Aloy Bharali of Bharali Brothers, one of the oldest home appliances and electronics retailers.

Sanjay Gupta, owner of Isha Metals, one of the largest cookware stores in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, said sales and product demands for induction cooktops have increased in the last few days. “From an average of five to six units sold daily, we have been selling around 15 units in the last four-five days. Customers say they want to have a handy back-up option in case LPG cylinders are not available,” Mr. Gupta said.

The country’s LPG production has increased by 25% since the government initiated the supply maintenance order on March 8, a senior official from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said at an inter-ministerial briefing in New Delhi.