Nepal recorded its highest liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports in the past three months during Falgun (mid-February to mid-March), yet consumers across the country continue to face shortages in the market.
Data from the Department of Customs shows that Nepal imported 51,192 tonnes of LPG in Falgun, up from 47,460 tonnes in Poush (mid-December to mid-January) and 46,285 tonnes in Magh (mid-January to mid-February). Despite this increase, supply constraints remain unresolved.
In response to growing public complaints about difficulty accessing cooking gas, the Nepal Oil Corporation introduced a half-cylinder distribution policy starting March 12 to manage limited availability.
Officials say the shortage is partly due to earlier disruptions linked to tensions in the Gulf region, which affected supply chains in previous months. Imports had declined during Poush and Magh, even though winter typically sees higher demand for LPG.
On a year-on-year basis, LPG imports in Falgun rose by 3,438 tonnes compared to the same period last year.
Overall, Nepal imported 372,282 tonnes of LPG between Shrawan and Falgun (mid-July to mid-March) in the current fiscal year—an increase of 10,187 tonnes compared to the same period last year—indicating a steady rise in total imports despite recent supply challenges.
