Lokmat News NetworkRaj Patil
Chhatrpati Sambhajinagar
After LPG, the city now faces a fresh crisis panic buying has wiped out stocks of infrared cooktops and induction stoves, with prices already surging up to 15% and no relief in sight.
The Iran conflict's ripple effects have reached deep into the city's kitchens. With cooking gas supplies tightening and prices climbing sharply, consumers are rapidly pivoting to electric alternatives and the shift is already straining city stocks. Electric induction cooktops, infrared (IR) cooktops, electric cookers, kettles, and air fryers have seen an unprecedented surge in demand, leaving local distributors and traders struggling to keep shelves stocked. The spike, traders say, is largely panic-driven. A Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) official noted that consumers, anxious about future fuel security, are rushing to secure electric alternatives before stocks dry up further. "Daily demand has surged to nearly 1,000 induction units, while around 5,000 infrared cooktops have been sold in just 10 days making it extremely challenging to meet rising consumer needs amid limited stock and supply constraints," said Arun Jadhav, a local distributor. However, city traders have urged residents not to panic. Domestic LPG supplies, they clarified, remain adequate and the current shortage is of electric appliances, not cooking gas.
------
Why the shortage?
Distributors cite limited local stock amid a sudden demand surge compounded by supplies being diverted to metro cities, leaving smaller markets severely underserved.
-----
Supply crunch triggers price surge across platforms
Stocks are vanishing on Zepto and Blinkit while e-commerce prices have already jumped 10% and with demand and manufacturing pressure mounting, another 10–15% hike is imminent.
----
Appliance demand surge
Daily induction demand: 1,000 units
10-day sales: 5,000 induction & IR cooktops sold
Prices up 10–15%, may climb to 20–25%
Distributors facing supply crunch on key electrical appliances
---
Induction demand surges amid price hike fears
“Induction rates have increased by 10–15%, and fear of a potential power or fuel crisis is driving buying. Consumers are actively purchasing induction stoves and air fryers, with around 1,000 induction units being ordered daily in the city.”
- Ajay Shah, state senior vice president, CAIT
---
Appliance surge shocks distributors as stocks run dry
"Induction cooktops, air fryers, and infrared cookers are out of stock with most distributors. The sudden demand spike has caught the market off guard induction prices have already risen 10%, AC prices are set to rise 10–11% from April 1, and refrigerators will also get costlier."
— Pankaj Agrawal, Electronics Distributor