Government Sets New Cooking Gas Price to Stabilize Market Amid Rising Global LPG Costs

MONROVIA, LIBERIA — April 23, 2026: The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has introduced a new nationwide pricing structure for cooking gas, establishing a fixed ceiling for the refilling of a 12kg cylinder as part of an intervention aimed at stabilizing the domestic market amid sustained increases in global liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices and ongoing disruptions in international energy supply chains.

‎According to an official release issued Wednesday, April 22, 2026 by the Ministry, the policy takes immediate effect and is designed to regulate market volatility, strengthen price discipline, and ensure uniformity across retail distribution points, particularly at a time when international LPG contract prices have risen significantly due to geopolitical tensions and logistical constraints affecting global shipping routes.

‎“The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, announces a new pricing structure for cooking gas to stabilize the market and protect consumers from arbitrary price movements,” the release stated, underscoring the policy shift as a corrective measure against external economic shocks transmitted into the domestic market.

‎The statement further indicated that the decision is informed by a “staggering rise” in global LPG contract prices, which have reportedly climbed to around US$775 per ton in April 2026, driven by supply chain disruptions, regional instability, and pressures affecting key energy corridors, including maritime routes critical to fuel transportation.

‎The Ministry emphasized that the new pricing framework is also intended to shield consumers from abrupt price fluctuations while ensuring that importers and dealers operate within a clearly defined and enforceable regulatory structure that supports market predictability and reduces speculative pricing behavior.

‎In coordination with the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), the Government noted that the intervention forms part of broader efforts to maintain stability in petroleum-related products, as global energy market conditions continue to exert upward pressure on domestic fuel and gas pricing systems.

‎The release explained that the Inspectorate Team of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will be responsible for monitoring compliance, reviewing dealer invoices, and ensuring that both wholesale and retail operators adhere strictly to the approved pricing structure without deviation or manipulation of margins.

‎Authorities further indicated that the enforcement mechanism will target both overpricing and unfair market practices, with regulatory action to be taken against any dealer found in violation of the established ceiling, in line with existing commercial and consumer protection regulations.

‎The Government also acknowledged that prior pricing structures were affected by broader global instability, noting that earlier attempts to stabilize fuel prices through monthly circulars were overtaken by rapid international market shifts and currency pressures that intensified during early 2026.