25x increase in demand: Induction cooktops hit jackpot amid LPG shortage

NEW DELHI: The LPG shortage triggered a sudden surge in demand for electric cooking appliances across Panchkula and nearby areas.Shops selling kitchen appliances reported heavy footfall throughout the day, with many items such as induction cooktops, rice cookers and electric kettles selling out by evening.Narinder Singla, a local shopkeeper, said, “We witnessed record sales today. Induction cooktops, rice cookers and electric kettles were in huge demand, and by evening almost all such appliances were sold out.”Veena Jain, a homemaker, said the LPG shortage forced her to look for alternatives. “We ran out of our LPG cylinder and the booking system was not responding. So we came to buy an induction cooktop and rice cooker so that we can cook food at home,” she said.

25X increase in demand

Demand of electric cooker, kettle, air fryer also doubles Induction cooktops at Swiggy Instamart, BlinkIt, and Croma are either sold out or currently not available as consumers are rushing to back-up options amid fears of disruption in the supply of cooking gas.A Flipkart spokesperson says induction cooktop sales have surged to 25 times the usual levels over the past two days. “The prevailing global condition has led to the induction of the cooktop from a ‘kitchen upgrade’ into a ‘survival necessity’ for many households.

We are seeing an unprecedented surge in induction sales driven by a combination of soaring costs and physical supply shortages of LPG. Sales of induction are trending at 25X now over the last two days, as compared to the preceding 3-4 weeks, with some localised highdemand areas like Delhi, Kolkata, and UP having even higher spikes as consumers hedge against future price volatility.

We’re also seeing a massive surge in other categories like electric cookers, kettles, and air fryers.” Addressing the demand, an Amazon India spokesperson adds, “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 vessels are also seeing a 2X increase in sales over a regular day.”