Gas supply crunch spurs demand for electric cookers

Sales of electric cookers have soared in the country amid shortage of natural gas supply to households, said trade insiders.

Rising incidents of LPG cylinder blasts has also prompted the consumers to turn to electric ovens, they added.

Local manufacturers and importers saw the sales of both Induction and infrared cookers jump 35-40 per cent over a year, as the city residents see them as the best alternatives to gas cookers, they said.

Murtaza Nadim, manager of Noor Trade Electrics at Bangabandhu National Stadium Market in the city, told the FE that some 20 or 22 units of induction and infrared cookers are now being sold a day whereas the figure was 14 or 15 units six months back.

The shop sells local brands like Vision and Walton and imported brands such as Miyako, Philips, Prestige, Osaka, Donlim and Dessini, he said.

Md Rafiqul Islam Nayan, proprietor of HR Electronics at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said most consumers cited the shortage of gas supply as the key reason to buy electric stoves.

The prices of induction and infrared cookers range between Tk 1,600 and Tk 6,200, he said, adding that the Walton and Vision cookers are selling at Tk 2800-Tk 3200.

He also said city dwellers now prefer electric cookers despite the fact they consume a high amount of electricity.

Md Kamruzzman Kamal, director (marketing) at Pran-RFL Group, which markets 'Vision'-branded infrared cooker, said shortage of gas supply coupled with low gas pressure has seriously been affecting the home cooking.

"I've seen that residents of many areas in the capital are being forced to buy breakfast and meals from hotels and restaurants because of gas crisis."

He also said the demand for 'Vision' infrared cookers has shot up in recent times.

"Sales of infrared cookers are rising keeping pace with induction cookers, as any kind of cooking pots and pans can be used for such cooker but only certain pots and pans are suitable for induction cookers," he said.

Secretary of Bangladesh Crockery Merchants Association (BCMA) Md Ziaur Rahman told the FE that the demand for electric cookers is high in sub-urban areas.

"The ongoing gas supply crunch and rising incidents of LPG cylinder blasts led to increasing sales of electric cookers in big cities like Dhaka and Chittagong," he said.

According to the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, eight people were killed and 50 others injured in LPG cylinder blasts in the last one year in the country.

According to Petrobangla, the state-run oil, gas and mineral resources corporation, the country's present demand for gas is 3,300 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd), while the production is around 2,700 mmcfd.

The Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd. (TGTDCL) is getting lower-than-expected gas due to low production.

The Crockery Merchants Association estimates that 11 million units of kitchenware, including 1.8 million units electric cookers, would be sold in 2018, said its secretary Ziaur Rahman.

While overall sales in the kitchenware sector are likely to see 10-12 per cent growth, the rate of growth for electric cookers might reach 35-40 per cent, he added.

[email protected]