Cooking gas prices soar in Asia, forcing households back to firewood

Across Asia, a sharp rise in prices and disruptions to supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used for cooking have driven many households back to dirtier fuels such as firewood and coal. Long queues, empty agency shelves and rising reliance on biomass are being reported in several urban and rural areas, with immediate consequences for daily life and public health.

Industry and field reports link the supply squeeze to disruptions in shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and broader fallout from conflict in the Middle East. Reuters coverage documents shortages in commercial cylinders, long waits at distribution points and a shift by some restaurants and caterers to wood-fired stoves as commercial LPG availability tightens. Governments have moved to prioritise household supply while businesses adapt to alternative fuels.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) emphasises that LPG is a primary cooking fuel for large parts of Asia and that disruptions to refined product flows can rapidly tighten local markets. This combination of supply-side shocks and strong household demand is increasing price volatility and accelerating policy debates over faster deployment of piped gas and electric cooking solutions.

Health experts warn the return to biomass threatens to undo gains in household air quality: increased indoor and neighbourhood particulate pollution from wood and charcoal elevates risks of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously linked household air pollution to millions of premature deaths annually, underlining the stakes of a widespread fuel-backslide.

Policymakers and energy companies are pursuing short-term measures—prioritising LPG for households, boosting refinery output and urging consumers to switch to piped natural gas or electric stoves where possible—but analysts caution the market may remain tight until shipping and regional security improve. In the near term, the most vulnerable households are likely to face worsened health and food-preparation burdens while longer-term infrastructure shifts could reshape energy demand patterns.