Induction cooktops run out of stock on quick-commerce apps amid LPG shortage fears

New Delhi: Induction cooktops are rapidly going out of stock on online platforms as households across India rush to find alternatives to cooking gas amid concerns about possible LPG supply disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Search results on leading quick-commerce platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket are showing “Unavailable” and “Sold out” tags for many induction cooktops in several cities.

These services, which typically promise deliveries within minutes, are witnessing a sudden surge in demand for electric cooking appliances as consumers look for alternatives to LPG cylinders.

Large e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart are also seeing a sharp spike in orders.

According to an Amazon India spokesperson, sales of induction cooktops have increased more than 30 times over the past two days.

“At the same time, rice cookers and electric pressure cookers are seeing nearly four times the usual demand, while air fryers and multi-use kettles are recording about double their normal sales,” the spokesperson said.

Flipkart also confirmed the trend, noting that sales of induction cooktops have quadrupled over the past four to five days compared with the previous weeks.

The company said demand has surged particularly in cities such as Delhi and Kolkata, as well as parts of Uttar Pradesh, where consumers are trying to secure alternatives amid fears of possible price volatility and supply shortages.

The sudden spike in demand reflects growing concerns among households and small businesses over the availability of cooking gas.

The conflict in West Asia has raised worries about potential disruptions in the supply of liquefied petroleum gas and other energy resources.

At the same time, oil marketing companies have reportedly asked LPG distributors to prioritise supplies for essential institutions such as hospitals and educational establishments.

Meanwhile, the government has increased domestic LPG production by around 25 per cent and is directing the entire output toward household consumers to ensure uninterrupted cooking gas supply.

According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, an order was issued on March 8 asking refineries and petrochemical complexes to maximise LPG production in view of the evolving situation in West Asia.

With inputs from IANS