LPG supply concerns spark rush for electric cooking devices; what get costlier
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LPG supply concerns spark rush for electric cooking devices; what get costlier

Concerns over cooking gas availability amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia are prompting households to turn to electric kitchen appliances, triggering a sharp rise in demand for induction cooktops and electric kettles, industry executives said.Tata Groupโ€™s Croma has seen a strong spike in consumer interest in induction cooktops over the past few days, while Stovekraft Ltd reported a multiple-fold jump in online sales of such appliances as buyers explored alternatives to LPG.โ€œAt Croma, we have observed a sharp and immediate uptick in demand for induction cooktops over the past few days. Our average daily run rate has surged significantly,โ€ Infiniti Retail Ltd (Croma) CEO & MD Shibashish Roy said, PTI reported.While he did not disclose exact numbers, Roy added, โ€œOur average daily run rate has surged to nearly three times the usual levels.โ€He further noted that consumer behaviour has also changed. โ€œInterestingly, we are also seeing customers purchase multiple units at a time, which was not common earlier, indicating some precautionary buying.โ€Alongside induction cooktops, demand for electric kettles has also increased, with sales nearly doubling compared with the regular run rate, Roy said.โ€œInduction cooktops and electric kettles are increasingly being viewed as a reliable and convenient alternative, and there is a present momentum in the adoption of electric cooking solutions across households,โ€ he said, adding that the company is maintaining adequate availability across stores and online channels.An Amazon India spokesperson said, โ€œOver the last two days, sales of induction cooktops have increased 30X, while rice cookers and electric pressure cookers are seeing a 4X increase. Air fryers and multi-use kettles are also seeing a 2X increase in sales over a regular day.โ€œCustomers are using Amazon Now to get similar products within minutes in parts of Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru.โ€Echoing similar trends, Stovekraft Managing Director Rajendra Gandhi said, โ€œWe have seen a four times spike in the average weekly sales of induction cooktops in the e-commerce channels since the beginning of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.โ€The company currently manufactures around 2 lakh induction cooktops at its facility in Harohalli, Karnataka. โ€œWe plan to ramp this up in the coming financial year,โ€ Gandhi added.Stovekraft said it expects consumer interest in energy-efficient and alternative cooking solutions to remain strong as households seek reliable and cost-effective appliances. The company sells kitchen appliances and cookware under brands such as Pigeon and Gilma through online and offline channels.Meanwhile, amid supply concerns linked to the West Asia conflict, a senior Oil Ministry official on Wednesday said there was no need for panic booking of LPG cylinders and that the normal delivery cycle of about 2.5 days was continuing.Indiaโ€™s crude oil supplies remain secure, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Sujata Sharma told reporters at a briefing, adding that crude is being sourced through routes that do not pass via the Strait of Hormuz.Government measures have also led to a 25 per cent rise in LPG production, according to the ministry. However, disruptions in energy supplies due to the widening conflict have created โ€œlimitationsโ€ in continuing LPG supplies to industrial and commercial consumers for now.

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