Representative image only. File | Photo credit: Siddhant Thakur
A worsening shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia has sparked a surge in demand for firewood, as sawmills and plywood mills report a flood of demand despite rising prices.
LPG and oil crisis LIVE: LPG shortage spurs firewood demand in Kerala
With the supply of commercial cylinders almost dry – forcing the closure of more than 100 hotels in Kochi alone – those still operating have cut back on meals and working hours while exploring alternative fuel sources. Samridhi@Kochi, a chain of budget restaurants jointly run by Kochi Corporation and Kudumbashree Mission, switched to firewood on Friday (March 13, 2026) after exhausting its last supply of LPG cylinders.
“We require up to 1.5 tonnes of firewood in our central kitchen, which costs around ₹ 6,000 including transport. The cooking is also considerably slower compared to LPG,” Samridhi sources said. According to feedback from the field, at least some domestic consumers are looking for firewood as a possible cover in case the LPG crisis worsens.
Deepak Patel, who runs a sawmill in Thoppumpady, said he has been inundated with enquiries, although he continues to supply only one full load to a long-time dealer. “We are primarily in the supply of wood for furniture and not in the firewood business. Still, I get five to six inquiries a day,” he said.
The price of firewood has already gone up by ₹ 500 per tonne and may go up further if the LPG crisis worsens. Fuelwood, once available at less than ₹3,000 per tonne, has largely been restricted to industrial boilers given the ubiquitous LPG connections in the state, apart from being sold as wood chips to factories in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Hameed Shah, who supplied five tonnes of firewood to Samridhi from his Thrissur sawmill, noted that plywood factories were facing labor shortages as migrant workers from Assam and Odisha had returned home due to electoral roll revision. “As demand increases, tree felling workers may also increase wages, which could further push prices down. Residents near plywood factories are already coming in small vehicles to collect firewood,” he said.
However, Mujeeb Rahman, president of the Sawmill Owners and Plywood Manufacturers Association, maintained that availability would not be an issue. “Every Malaysian household has at least two pressure cylinders, so there is no need to panic. Even if the demand rises, we can meet it by limiting the supply to industries,” he said.
Published – March 14, 2026 12:37 PM IST
