The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for January will remain the same as in the previous two months, with no changes announced for this month.
Consumers will continue to pay Tk 1,455 for a 12-kg LPG cylinder, the price set by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) in November.
At a press conference on Thursday, BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed confirmed that despite a decrease in LPG prices in the international market, the rise in the US dollar’s exchange rate has offset any potential price reduction domestically.
The average global price of propane and butane dropped by $13.33 per ton compared to December.
However, this decline could not be reflected in the local market.
The price of autogas, a form of LPG used in vehicles, will also remain steady at Tk 66.81 per liter, as set for November and December.
Due to restrictions on new natural gas connections, the demand for LPG has increased significantly in households for cooking, as well as in restaurants, vehicles, and small- to large-scale industries, it said.
To align domestic LPG prices with the global market, BERC adjusts prices monthly based on Saudi Aramco’s contract prices for propane and butane. This pricing system has been in place since April 12, 2021, it added.
Over the past months, LPG prices experienced several adjustments. In October, the price increased by Tk 35 compared to September, reaching Tk 1,456 for a 12-kg cylinder. Similarly, prices rose by Tk 44 in September, Tk 11 in August, and Tk 3 in July, bringing the respective prices to Tk 1,421, Tk 1,377, and Tk 1,366 during those months.
The steady demand for LPG and the impact of fluctuating global prices, coupled with local currency challenges, continue to influence pricing decisions in the domestic market.
