India's oil marketing companies (OMCs) raised the price of 19-kg commercial LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinders by ₹993 with effect from 1 May 2026 — the steepest single-month increase on record — as the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran continues to disrupt global energy supply chains and drive crude oil prices sharply higher.
In Delhi, a 19-kg commercial cylinder now costs ₹3,071.50, up from ₹2,078.50 in April. The hike is even steeper in other cities: ₹3,024 in Mumbai (up ₹1,015.50), ₹3,259.50 in Chennai (up ₹1,013), and ₹3,355 in Kolkata, which saw the largest jump of ₹1,147. Bengaluru prices have hit ₹3,152 — the highest commercial LPG rate ever recorded in the city. Prices of 19-kg cylinders have now crossed the ₹3,000 mark for the first time in India's history.
The 5-kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinder — sold under brand names such as Indane Chhotu, Bharat Gas Mini, and HP Gas Appu — has also been hiked by ₹261 per cylinder, effective immediately.
Domestic Consumers Shielded, For Now
The government has kept prices of the 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder unchanged. In Delhi, the domestic cylinder continues to cost ₹913. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) stated that around 80% of petroleum products have seen no price change, insulating 33 crore domestic LPG consumers, as well as users of petrol, diesel, and PDS kerosene. Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices for domestic airlines have also been held steady, though ATF rates for international airline operations have been revised upward.
"No change in prices of domestic LPG (14.2 kg) for 33 crore domestic LPG consumers. No change in ATF prices for domestic airlines (scheduled operations)," IOC said in an official statement.
The Fourth Hike Since the Iran War Began
This is the fourth consecutive revision in commercial LPG prices since the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran conflict. On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury — coordinated strikes on Iranian military, nuclear, and leadership targets. Iran retaliated with missile strikes across the region and closed the Strait of Hormuz, triggering the world's largest oil supply disruption since the 1970s energy crisis. Crude oil prices have surged past US$120/ barrel.
The commercial LPG price hike timeline since the conflict began:
- 1 March 2026: Initial revision amid early market shock
- 7 March 2026: Hike of ₹114.50 per cylinder
- 1 April 2026: Hike of ₹195–₹218 per cylinder (city-dependent)
- 1 May 2026: Hike of ₹993–₹1,147 per cylinder (city-dependent)
In Delhi alone, the cumulative increase since March 1 amounts to approximately ₹1,331/ 19-kg cylinder.
Export Duties Revised; Domestic Pump Prices Unchanged
The government also revised Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on exports for the fortnight beginning May 1. These export levies were first introduced on 27 March 2026, to discourage exports and protect domestic fuel availability amid the West Asia crisis, with an initial rate of ₹21.50/litre on diesel and ₹29.50/litre on ATF. Following a review on 11 April 2026, these were sharply increased to ₹55.50/litre on diesel and ₹42/litre on ATF. For the current fortnight from 1 May 2026, the duty on diesel exports has been revised to ₹23/litre, while ATF export duty stands at ₹33/litre. Export duty on petrol remains nil. Retail prices of petrol and diesel at domestic pumps remain unchanged.
Businesses Brace for Cascading Price Increases
The hospitality and food services sectors, which depend heavily on commercial cylinders, face a sharp rise in operating costs. Industry representatives have warned that higher menu prices are now inevitable.
According to IOC, OMCs are under significant financial pressure, absorbing losses on domestic fuels while partially passing through global cost increases to commercial users. Commercial and bulk LPG together account for less than 1% of total LPG consumption in India, limiting the direct reach of the hike but concentrating its impact on the business community.
The government has also doubled the supply of 5-kg FTL (free tradeLPG) cylinders to migrant workers — a segment that has seen rapidly growing demand — and is selling the mini cylinders with minimal documentation (Aadhaar only), as part of efforts to ensure supply stability during the ongoing energy crisis.
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