The fall in costs lowers the price of the butane cylinder again. The reference price will go to 16.79 euros as of this Tuesday, in what will be its third consecutive drop from the all-time highs of last year. Since September 2022, the bottle has seen its price drop by 14.1%.
The price for the cylinder, 5% lower and the maximum reduction allowed, will be in force until its next bimonthly review on May 16, according to a resolution published this Monday in the Official State Gazette (BOE).
To define the new price, the costs of raw materials (propane and butane) in international markets have been taken into account, as well as the cost of freight (transportation) and the evolution of the euro-dollar exchange rate. In favor of consumers, the drop in the cost of freight (-33%) has gone, while the price of raw materials has risen by 15%. The euro, for its part, has appreciated by 3.3% at the crossroads with the dollar, which makes buying on the international market cheaper.
The war in Ukraine, and the skyrocketing prices in international markets, forced the price to rise to 19.55 euros. It is the historical record, which was maintained between May and September of last year. The cap will remain in effect until 2023.
The regulated price affects the butane cylinders most commonly used by households, containers with a load equal to or greater than eight kilos and less than 20, whose tare weight is greater than nine kilos. When reviewing the prices they can go up or down at most 5%. The price excess or defect over this cap is accumulated for its application in subsequent reviews.
The butane cylinder remains the main alternative in towns or urban centers where there is no natural gas network installed. In any case, it is a downside option. Consumption has fallen by a quarter in the last decade.
