After the ongoing LPG shortage hit hotels across Bengaluru, a new crisis is emerging as cooking oil supplies shrink, forcing shop owners to warn of possible closures and rising prices
Bengaluru: Even as the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders continues to disrupt kitchens across Bengaluru, residents of the city may soon face another setback. Cooking oil retailers are now warning of a potential shutdown of shops due to severe supply disruptions and rising prices, intensifying concerns about food supply in the city.
The ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Iran, United States, and Israel have already created pressure on fuel supplies, contributing to shortages of commercial LPG cylinders used by hotels and food establishments.
Now, the ripple effect appears to be spreading to the cooking oil supply chain, raising fears of another major disruption for households and small businesses.
Cooking Oil Supply Drops, Prices Rise
Local cooking oil shop owners say the supply situation has worsened over the past week. According to retailers, distributors are unable to deliver the usual quantities of oil cartons.
“For the past one week, cooking oil supply has been very limited. If we place orders for 100 to 200 boxes, agents are sending only 20 to 50 boxes. When we ask the reason, they simply say they cannot supply more,” a shop owner said.
Retailers also reported a price increase of ₹15 to ₹20 per box, adding to the financial burden on traders and customers alike.
Shop owners warn that if the supply disruption continues, several cooking oil stores may be forced to shut operations temporarily, creating another challenge for the city’s food sector.
Commercial LPG Shortage Hits Hotels
The crisis began with a disruption in commercial LPG cylinder supplies over the last four to five days. Many restaurant owners in Bengaluru say the shortage has severely affected their operations.
Several hotels have already temporarily shut down, while others are operating with limited menus to conserve gas usage.
The shortage has also affected food outlets near Victoria Hospital, where eateries are now serving only basic dishes such as anna-sambar and rice bath, after halting preparations of Chinese and tandoor items due to the lack of commercial cylinders.
KR Market Vegetable Trade Suffers
The ripple effect of the crisis has now reached KR Market, one of the city’s largest vegetable trading hubs.
With many Darshini outlets and roadside eateries shutting down due to LPG shortages, vegetable vendors say demand has fallen sharply.
Traders report that hotels and food stalls are among the largest buyers of vegetables, and their temporary closure has significantly reduced daily sales.
Industry observers warn that if both fuel and cooking oil supply disruptions continue, Bengaluru’s food ecosystem—from restaurants to vegetable traders—could face wider economic losses in the coming weeks.
