PANAJI
Foreseeing shortage of LPG cylinders in Goa, triggered by supply disruptions linked to the escalating tensions in the Middle East, there has been an unexpected rush for electric induction cooktops, with major quick-commerce platforms running out of stocks while retail stores reporting a sharp spike in demand.
When The Goan checked quick-delivery platforms such as Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart, most listings for induction cooktops showed “out of stock” or “unavailable”, reflecting the surge in demand from both households and commercial establishments scrambling for alternatives to LPG.
Retailers across Panaji said sales of induction cookers have risen by up by more than 60 per cent in the past few days, following the Central government’s decision to temporarily halt the supply of commercial LPG cylinders and enforce a 25-day mandatory gap between domestic refills to maintain availability for household consumers.
The move has triggered a race among consumers and businesses to secure alternative cooking options. Small restaurants and roadside eateries are now attempting to switch to high-power induction hobs to keep their businesses running. However, this shift is further tightening the availability of induction units in the retail market, leaving many households struggling to find affordable alternatives.
A retailer City Connection, an electronics store in Panaji, said the demand has been unprecedented, particularly from hotels and eateries struggling with the shortage of 19-kg commercial LPG cylinders.
“There is huge demand. On an average, orders for six to seven commercial induction stoves from hotels, are coming up daily. Being a small trader, we keep limited stock and place fresh orders depending on demand,” the store owner told The Goan.
He added that smaller induction cooktops meant for domestic use are also selling rapidly, but supply from manufacturers has not kept pace with the sudden surge in demand.
Discussions with several city based electrical and electronic retailers revealed that daily sales of induction cooktops have jumped dramatically from 0 to one units earlier to nearly 5-10 units during the current spike for domestic consumption. “Until a week back, people use to compare store rate of any electronic items with online platforms but today the situation has changed. People are ready to buy at any cost,” a retailer said.
Other electric cooking appliances such as electric kettles, hot plates, air fryers are also witnessing increased sales as households prepare for potential disruptions in LPG availability.
The impact is being felt sharply by the hospitality sector.
A manager at a city-based hotel said the shortage of commercial cylinders has forced them to scale down kitchen operations. “We are running out of commercial LPG and induction stove supply is also slow. We have partially shut our kitchen operations, but since we have in-house guests staying in the hotel, we have to make alternate arrangements,” the manager said.
Retailers warn that if LPG supply constraints continue, the demand for electric cooking appliances could surge even further in the coming days, putting additional pressure on already stretched retail inventories as well as possible rise in prices of these items.
