A war in the Middle East and concerns over LPG supply have led to shortages of gas cylinders in India, prompting people to seek electric cooking alternatives. Sales of induction cookers and other appliances have surged, with products going out of stock on Croma and Amazon.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East and rising concerns over LPG supply are now impacting kitchens across India. In several cities, gas cylinders are unavailable or selling at double the price in the black market. This has led to a sharp increase in demand for induction cooktops and other electric cooking appliances over the past few days.
Shibashish Roy, CEO and MD of Infiniti Retail Ltd, which operates Croma, stated that daily sales of induction cooktops in stores have nearly tripled compared to normal days. He noted, "Many customers are now buying more than one induction cooktop at a time, which was rare before." Sales of electric kettles have also doubled. Croma described this trend as unprecedented and is working to increase stock levels.
An Amazon India spokesperson reported that induction cooktop sales surged 30 times in the last two days compared to usual levels. Rice cookers and electric pressure cookers saw a fourfold increase, while air fryers and multi-use electric kettles doubled. In Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, customers are using quick delivery platforms to obtain these products rapidly.
The shift extends beyond households; in some cities, hotels, dhabas, and small restaurants are adopting electric cooking setups due to gas uncertainty. This could lead to higher electricity demand. People are preparing backups to reduce reliance on gas.
