Induction cooktops have become 'sold out' on major quick-commerce platforms as the LPG supply crisis intensifies across India. On platforms like Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart, multiple models of induction stoves were unavailable or listed as 'sold out' in cities including Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai. The trend is more visible in areas that rely largely on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), with places such as Greater Noida, where households are connected to piped natural gas, consumers have not yet felt a direct impact. This development comes as restaurants in cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai have warned that operations could be disrupted if gas supplies do not stabilise soon. The crisis has created consumer panic over potential LPG supply disruptions stemming from the US-Iran conflict. Flipkart reports that sales of induction cooktops have tripled in the last 4-5 days, with demand coming from cities like Delhi, Kolkata, and Uttar Pradesh. As per The Indian Express, Flipkart is seeing an unprecedented surge in induction sales driven by a combination of soaring costs and physical supply shortages of LPG.
Induction cooktop sales have experienced unprecedented growth across major Indian cities as the LPG supply crisis intensifies. Mohammad Shabir from Chandni Chowk, Patna, sold 25 induction stoves in a single day - the highest ever for his shop, while Bipin Pandey in Lucknow sold 25 units in five days, leading to good profit during off-season. S. Jayaprakash in Chennai reported selling 40 cooktops in two days, with prices ranging from ₹1,500-₹3,500. J. Sathish in Coimbatore noted demand for single and double burner induction stoves has more than doubled, with sales increasing from 5-6 units daily to 12-13 units. A Delhi-based retail chain reported daily sales jumping from 40-50 to 130-150 induction stoves since the start of the week. Aloy Bharali in Guwahati noted sales of induction stoves and microwave ovens have jumped by at least 50% since the government issued gas supply alerts, though supply constraints are emerging as manufacturers struggle to meet unprecedented demand.
Kitchen appliance manufacturers are facing unprecedented challenges as limited inventory and supply chain constraints for imported components threaten to undermine the surge in induction cooktop demand. At Stovekraft Ltd, the parent company of kitchen appliance brands Pigeon and Gilma, average sales of induction cooktops increased about four times over the past few days, with weekly demand about five-fold higher than in the same period last year, according to managing director Rajendra Gandhi. Wonderchef's founder Ravi Saxena reported that the company's monthly inventory of induction cooktops sold out within hours after demand suddenly spiked, with sales volumes that typically take about two weeks to achieve happening within a single day. Hawkins Cookers' chairman Subhadip Dutta Choudhury noted that sales volumes that typically take about two weeks to achieve are currently happening within a single day. The two most critical components of an induction cooktop are the printed circuit board (PCB), which controls power flow and temperature regulation, and the copper induction coil that generates the electromagnetic field used for cooking. While coils and metal parts are often manufactured locally, PCBs and control modules are frequently sourced from China and other Asian manufacturing hubs, creating potential supply chain vulnerabilities.
TTK Prestige shares have surged nearly 29.77% over three days due to increased demand for induction cooktops amid the LPG shortage crisis. The company's induction cookers, accounting for roughly 10-12% of their revenue, have seen daily sales rise from around 40-45 units to almost 120-130 units. This strong demand trend has been reflected in stock performance, with TTK Prestige shares climbing 15% for the second straight session on Thursday, March 12. The surge has greatly outperformed the broader consumer durables sector, which saw an increase of about 2% during the same timeframe, according to market experts. Market analysts indicate that should there be persistent issues with LPG supply, consumers may temporarily switch to induction or electric cooking devices, which could benefit companies like TTK Prestige, Stove Kraft, and Gandhimathi Appliances. Small disruptions in fuel supply are causing consumers to gravitate towards electric appliances.
The LPG supply disruption has triggered an unprecedented surge in electric cooking appliance sales on major e-commerce platforms. Amazon reports induction cooktop sales have jumped nearly 30 times over the past two days, while rice cookers and electric pressure cookers have recorded a fourfold rise in orders. As reported by The Indian Express, air fryers and multi-use kettles have roughly doubled in sales. Flipit also witnessed a similar trend, with induction cooktop sales rising fourfold over the past four to five days compared with the previous three to four weeks, with demand particularly strong in Delhi, Kolkata and parts of Uttar Pradesh. Quick commerce platforms have seen a dramatic jump in demand, with industry sources indicating sales of induction cooktops have surged nearly 10 times recently. At TTK Prestige, products such as electric cookers and electric kettles have seen a 20-30% increase in demand, while sales of induction-compatible cookware including non-stick cookers and pans have grown about 10% in recent days, the company said.
The LPG supply crisis has intensified with domestic LPG cylinder prices in Delhi jumping to ₹913 from ₹853, a hike of ₹60, while commercial cylinder prices rose by ₹115. According to The Indian Express, though the Centre has assured that households will not face a shortage, the crisis has already led to several restaurants around the country shutting down, or severely cutting back on operations. In some parts of the country, the panic has driven a black market, with cylinders being sold for as much as ₹2,000-₹3,000, with consumers forced to pay the premium because cylinders are simply unavailable at agencies. Prices of induction stoves in Kolkata have shot up by at least ₹400 to ₹500 in the past few days, with several distributors and retailers witnessing a three-fold increase in demand for the appliance. S. Alarmelmangai from Chennai purchased an induction cooktop for ₹2,000 after her LPG cylinder lasted only 21 days, stating it was expensive but necessary as a fallback plan.
