India raises cooking gas prices as Iran war hits supply

Commercial LPG cylinder prices have also been raised by Indian companies

FILE PHOTO: A man pushes a trishaw loaded with cooking gas cylinders in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad Apr 29, 2010. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo

Indian companies have raised the prices of liquefied petroleum gas, mostly used as a cooking fuel, for the first time in about a year, as global prices surge with the US-Israel war on Iran disrupting supplies from the Middle East.

Indian Oil Corp, the country's top refiner and LPG seller, has increased the prices of a 14.2-kg LPG cylinder in Delhi by 7 percent to 913 rupees ($9.93), according to its website.

State refiners IOC, Bharat Petroleum Corp and Hindustan Petroleum Corp raised prices in tandem.

India, the world's second-biggest importer of LPG, last year consumed 33.15 million metric tons of cooking gas, a mixture of propane and butane, with imports accounting for about two-thirds of LPG consumption. Middle Eastern LPG accounts for 85 percent to 90 percent of those imports.

India on Friday asked refiners to boost LPG production to avoid any shortage of cooking gas in the country.

Indian companies have also raised the prices of 19-kg commercial LPG cylinders, mainly used by hotels and restaurants, to 1,883 rupees from 1,768.50 rupees.