The independent regulator Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has reduced the retail price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for June, offering some relief to consumers after steep increases earlier this year.
The BERC on Tuesday announced a cut of Tk55 for a standard 12kg LPG cylinder, bringing the new retail price down to Tk1,885.
The revised prices came into effect from 6pm local time on Tuesday.
Under the new pricing structure, privately supplied LPG will now cost Tk157.06 per kilogram. The price of autogas has also been reduced, falling from Tk89.50 to Tk86.93 per litre — a decrease of Tk2.57.
The regulator said the adjustment was based on Saudi Aramco’s monthly contract prices for propane and butane, as well as import costs, shipping charges, trader premiums and fluctuations in the US dollar exchange rate.
For June, Saudi Aramco set propane prices at $760 per metric tonne and butane at $820, with the average contract price standing at $799 per tonne.
The latest reduction follows a period of sharp volatility in Bangladesh’s LPG market. On 2 April, the price of a 12kg cylinder was raised by Tk387 to Tk1,727. A further increase of Tk212 on 19 April pushed the price to Tk1,940, meaning consumers faced a cumulative rise of Tk599 within just 17 days.
Prices remained unchanged in May before the latest cut was announced for June.
BERC said prices for government-supplied LPG would remain unchanged, with a 12.5kg cylinder continuing to retail at Tk776.93.
The regulator also warned distributors and retailers against selling LPG or autogas above the officially fixed prices, saying legal action would be taken against violators.