A fresh LPG supply crunch has hit the market, leaving vehicle users searching for autogas at pumps and households paying sharply higher prices for cooking gas cylinders.
Driver Nasir Uddin, who had earlier faced fuel shortages at filling stations in March-April, found himself in a similar situation this time while looking for LPG.
Over the past two days, he visited more than 10 pumps from Baliapur in Savar to Aminbazar, Gabtoli, Technical and Mirpur-2, but failed to find LPG and eventually bought octane instead.
Pump operators told him that LPG supplies had not arrived for three days and might resume after 1 October.
The shortage has also pushed up prices of household LPG cylinders.
Consumers are now paying Tk400-Tk500 above the government-fixed price for a 12kg cylinder, with some paying even more in certain areas.
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) fixed the price of a 12kg LPG cylinder at Tk1,585 on 2 September. However, market prices have now crossed Tk2,000 in many areas.
A visit in Gabtoli, Mirpur and other areas found several filling stations displaying “LPG unavailable” signs.
“Two days ago, I had to buy a cylinder for Tk2,000. If I increase my restaurant prices, customers will suffer; if I do not, my business will take a hit. We are caught in a dilemma,” said Arif Hossain, an employee of a restaurant in Azimpur.
LPG importers said the country’s LPG imports fell by around 25 per cent in September compared with August, citing higher freight costs and uncertainty in shipping routes due to the ongoing West Asia conflict.
They said some key maritime routes used for LPG transportation had become uncertain, forcing importers to use alternative routes that increased ship rental and transportation costs.
However, the claims could not be independently verified.
Members of the LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) said many importers were receiving 30 to 40 per cent less cargo than their contracted quantities.
They also cited higher international cargo premiums, including freight and insurance costs.
Importers said rising cargo prices and shipping costs had increased their import expenses, making it difficult to increase supplies without adjusting regulated prices.
A delegation of retail LPG traders met Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jalal Ahmed on Sunday, alleging that they had to buy cylinders from companies at prices above the BERC-fixed rate, making it impossible to sell at the official price without losses.
BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed said the commission would hold discussions with importers to restore normal supply in the market.
