The price of the 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder — the one most households depend on for cooking — is holding steady currently. But the 19 kg commercial cylinder, the one restaurants, dhabas, hotels, and caterers use, has jumped sharply. And panic buying triggered by the Iran war has added a new state: LPG booking apps crashing and artificial scarcity in some black markets.
Here is the complete picture as of April 13, 2026.
DOMESTIC LPG (14.2 KG) PRICES — MAJOR CITIES TODAY
Delhi: Rs 913.00 Mumbai: Rs 912.50 Kolkata: Rs 939.00 Chennai: Rs 928.50 Hyderabad: Rs 965.00 Lucknow: Rs 950.50 Bengaluru: Approximately Rs 920–930
These rates were last revised on March 7, 2026, when oil marketing companies raised domestic prices by Rs 60 per cylinder — the first such hike since April 2025. The price has not changed since.
COMMERCIAL LPG (19 KG) PRICES — MAJOR CITIES TODAY
Delhi: Rs 2,078.50 (up Rs 195 from last month) Mumbai: Rs 2,031.00 (up Rs 196) Kolkata: Rs 2,208.00 (up Rs 218) Chennai: Rs 2,246.50 (up Rs 203) Lucknow: Rs 2,201.00 (up Rs 194)
These hikes came into effect from April 1, 2026, and the trigger is clear: the Saudi Contract Price (SCP) for LPG surged 44 percent, rising from $542 per tonne in March to $780 per tonne in April. The SCP is the benchmark that Indian oil marketing companies use to price commercial LPG imports. When it jumps this sharply, the commercial segment cannot be shielded.
WHY IS DOMESTIC LPG STILL AT THE SAME PRICE?
This is deliberate government policy, but it comes at a cost. Oil marketing companies — Indian Oil, BPCL, and HPCL — are currently absorbing an under-recovery of approximately Rs 380 per domestic cylinder. In other words, they are selling domestic LPG below the actual cost of importing and distributing it.
The government is choosing to protect the household consumer from immediate price pain, especially with assembly elections scheduled in several states this year. The political calculus is obvious. The financial strain on OMCs is real.
India imports over 90 percent of its LPG. The primary source has historically been Saudi Arabia and Qatar. But the Strait of Hormuz war has disrupted those supply chains. In a notable development, the US has now reportedly replaced the UAE as India's largest LPG supplier, as companies scramble for non-Hormuz sources.
The first India-flagged LPG vessel to successfully navigate the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran war began arrived at Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port recently, carrying 15,400 tonnes. The port authority described it as a "significant milestone." It is, for now, an exception rather than a pattern.
THE PANIC BUYING SURGE
The daily LPG bookings in India jumped nearly 59 percent in a single day recently, rising from an average of 55.7 lakh bookings per day to 88.8 lakh bookings in one day. IndianOil One, the LPG booking app, briefly topped both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store charts in India — an unusual distinction for an energy utility app.
Officials have clarified clearly and repeatedly: there is no LPG shortage. Supplies are stable. The panic is being driven by social media rumours about an impending shortage or price hike, and the anxiety created by the Iran war news. The government has not announced any reduction in cylinder supply.
However, some black market reports are emerging. In select cities, cylinders are reportedly being sold for Rs 1,200–1,500, well above the official Rs 913. The government is aware of this. Under the Essential Commodities Act, a new directive now prohibits households with piped natural gas (PNG) connections from keeping domestic LPG cylinders — a measure aimed at freeing up supply for those who genuinely need cylinders.
What Should You Expect in Coming Weeks?
Domestic 14.2 kg cylinder: No revision is likely this week. The government has no political incentive to raise prices right now. However, if the Hormuz blockade announced today by the Trump administration tightens supply further and global LPG prices stay elevated or rise, the pressure on OMCs will keep mounting. A revision in May 2026 cannot be ruled out.
Commercial 19 kg cylinder: Already high. If the Saudi Contract Price stays near current levels or rises further — which is possible given the supply chain disruption — another hike in May is plausible. Restaurant and hotel owners should plan their budgets accordingly.
Small 5 kg cylinders: These were hiked by Rs 51 from April 1. In Delhi, a 5 kg cylinder now costs Rs 549, compared to Rs 331 earlier. These are sold without a regular domestic connection and are commonly used by migrant workers and small households.
PNG (piped natural gas) remains unchanged in price across cities. At Rs 47.89 per unit in Delhi and Rs 50 in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, PNG is currently cheaper than LPG for equivalent cooking use. The government is actively pushing commercial establishments to switch to PNG and reduce pressure on the LPG supply chain.
The bottom line
Your domestic cylinder price has not changed and is unlikely to change this week. But the global situation — especially the US blockade of Hormuz announced today — means the outlook beyond April is genuinely uncertain.
SOURCES
- Goodreturns.in
- BusinessToday
- News24 Online Live Update
- JNPA official release