Induction cooktops' demand skyrockets on e-commerce platforms amid LPG crunch

Induction cooktops fly off shelves across ecommerce, quick commerce platforms amid LPG crunch

Induction cooktops are flying off digital shelves as consumers scramble for alternatives to LPG amid worsening Iran war.  While Amazon and Flipkart have seen a dramatic spike in sales, quick-delivery players such as Blinkit, Instamart and Zepto have already run out of stock in several cities, Moneycontrol has found.

The surge comes as households look for alternatives amid disruption in the supply of liquified petroleum gas disruptions in parts of the country, the West Asia conflict choke supplies. Supply concerns and rising prices are pushing many consumers to switch to electric cooking appliances such as induction cooktops, rice cookers and electric pressure cookers.

“Over the last two days, sales of induction cooktops have increased over 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. Customers are using Amazon Now to get similar products within minutes in parts of Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru,” an Amazon India spokesperson said.

The surge is also visible on quick commerce platforms where induction cooktops have gone out of stock in several locations, Moneycontrol found, as households turning to electric cooking alternatives.

“We are seeing an unprecedented surge in induction sales driven by a combination of soaring costs and physical supply shortages of LPG. Sales volume has quadrupled over the last four-five days as compared to the preceding three-four weeks, with some localised high-demand areas like Delhi, Kolkata, and UP having even higher spikes as consumers hedge against future price volatility,” a Flipkart spokesperson said.

The spike in online demand reflects growing anxiety among consumers over cooking gas availability as the supply crunch begins to ripple through households and small businesses.

Moneycontrol has reported that shares of appliance makers such as Hawkins Cookers, Borosil, Bajaj Electricals and TTK Prestige rose up to 13 percent, as investors bet on a surge in demand for induction cooktops and other electric cooking appliances amid fears of LPG shortage.

Oil marketing companies have asked LPG distributors to prioritise supply of commercial cylinders for essential institutions such as hospitals and educational establishments, a move that could further tighten availability for other users, Moneycontrol reported earlier.