Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices in the Kurdistan Region have more than doubled since the escalation of regional tensions earlier this year. Although a ceasefire later reduced military activity, LPG prices have remained significantly higher than previous levels. Fuel industry representatives expect prices to decline gradually in the coming weeks.
According to fuel station officials in Sulaymaniyah, one liter of LPG currently sells for around 950 Iraqi dinars. The price remains well above normal levels despite recent improvements in regional stability.
The sharp increase has also affected consumer demand. Fuel station operators report that LPG sales have dropped dramatically compared with the winter season. Current sales volumes have fallen by nearly 95%, as many consumers struggle to cope with higher fuel costs.
Before the conflict and the ceasefire announced on April 8, a liter of LPG sold for only 390 dinars across the Kurdistan Region. Since then, supply shortages and market uncertainty have pushed prices sharply higher.
Jangi Majid, head of the Erbil Fuel Stations Association, said the current LPG price in Erbil stands at about 1,050 dinars per liter. However, he expects prices to move lower in the coming days as wholesale costs continue to decline.
He explained that the price of one ton of LPG recently dropped to 1.7 million dinars. Just one day earlier, the same amount sold for 2.84 million dinars. As a result, retailers may reduce prices by around 100 dinars per liter in the near future.
Industry officials attribute the price surge to limited gas supplies and the ongoing effects of regional instability on fuel markets and trade routes. Despite these challenges, they believe the market will gradually return to normal conditions.
LPG plays an important role in the Kurdistan Region. Residents use it both as vehicle fuel and for household cooking gas cylinders. Commercial gas cylinders currently cost around 24,000 dinars in Erbil and about 20,000 dinars in Sulaymaniyah.
In addition to private market sales, the Kurdistan Regional Government continues to distribute subsidized LPG cylinders to residents. The official price for a government-supplied cylinder remains 8,500 dinars, helping families manage rising living costs.
