FIRE IN CONSUMERS' POCKETS - LPG CYLINDERS AT €25 - RAPID INCREASE OF 33% WITHIN A MONTH - Filenews 26/3 by Angelos Nikolaou
The price of the 10 kg LPG cylinder has climbed to high levels in recent days, causing great concern to households and businesses. According to the latest data from the March 2026 Price Observatory, expected to be published in early April, the average price of the cylinder is now €25, showing a leap increase compared to previous months.
The sharp charge becomes obvious if one considers that just last February the average price was €18.74, while in January of this year it did not exceed €18.13. A comparison with March 2025, when the price was €17.70, shows an overall increase of 41% within a year.
The Consumer Protection Service is closely monitoring the formation of prices, noting that the current situation reflects the complete dependence of the domestic market on international stock market prices of fuel.
The root of the problem lies in the geopolitical turbulence and the conflict in Iran. These tensions caused a domino effect of price increases in international energy markets, directly affecting the two main components of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG):
a) Butane (80% of the mixture): It recorded a shock increase of 77% since the beginning of January.
b) Propane (20% of the mixture): Its price increased by 47% over the same period.
The LPG that reaches Cypriot homes is the result of the mixing of these two hydrocarbons, which are imported as raw materials and are subject to fluctuations in international indices.
Despite international pressures, Cyprus now has a modern management infrastructure. In the Energy and Industrial Area of Vassiliko operates the unit of VLPG Plant Ltd, a strategic consortium of the companies Petrolina, EKO, Intergaz and Synergas.
Although the four companies operate competitively in the market, they work together in this joint unit for the import and storage of bulk LPG, the mixing of ingredients and the bottling and maintenance of cylinders for consumer safety.
VLPG annually manages approximately 32,000 tons of bulk LPG and 24,000 tons of bottled gas, covering all of the country's needs. Despite the economies of scale offered by the state-of-the-art terminal, the huge cost of importing the raw material seems to be inevitably passed on to the final price of the product.
Cylinder 10kg (average price)
Period
March 2025 €17,70
January 2026 €18,13 with a change rate of 2,4%
February 2026 €18,74 with a change rate of 3,4%
March 2026 €25,00 with a percentage change of 33,4%
