Induction: Cylinder Shortage Precedes Gas Crisis, Now Induction Cooktops Have Also Vanished from the Market..

Amidst the unfolding crisis in the Middle East, the global supply of oil and natural gas has faced disruptions. India, too, is grappling with an LPG crisis; however, the government is making every possible effort to alleviate this situation. The government has assured the public that there is no major crisis and that domestic production has, in fact, increased. Nevertheless, rising gas and fuel prices, coupled with prolonged delays in booking refills, have heightened anxiety among consumers. Amidst reports of an LPG shortage, the government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act (ESMA) to safeguard cooking gas supplies; however, driven by fear and apprehension, the demand for alternative cooking methods has surged.

Upon realizing the extent of the gas shortage, people have begun stockpiling gas cylinders while simultaneously engaging in a buying spree for induction cooktops. The situation has now reached a point where the demand for electric cooktops has skyrocketed to such an extent that induction units are currently out of stock in several localities across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata. Even smaller retail shops are now experiencing a shortage of induction cooktops.

Induction Cooktops Vanish from E-Commerce Platforms
Searches for induction cooktops on quick-commerce apps currently display "Unavailable" or "Sold Out" badges. According to a report by *The Economic Times*, platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart are all showing induction cooktops as being out of stock.

Induction Cooktops: Out of Stock

Major e-commerce players like Amazon and BigBasket are still listing limited stock; however, the available units are priced upwards of ₹3,000. This is because the budget-friendly models from brands like Lifelong, Pigeon, and Prestige—which were selling for around ₹1,200 just last week—are the first to disappear from inventory.

Rising Demand for These Products
Consequently, consumers are now left with the sole option of purchasing models priced above ₹3,000. It is worth noting that induction cooktops require compatible cookware for cooking purposes. Therefore, demand has surged not only for induction cooktops but also for induction-compatible cookware.