LPG shortage?

[colin33]

Took a trip from Cornwall to Norfolk last week, (work trip obviously) and on my way home called into the Murco filling station along the 303. I always stop here, because the lpg has always been good value at 55p. Not the case now, gone up to 79.9p. I asked about this, and was told that Calor, their previous supplier could not guarantee consistent supply anymore, so they had to find another supplier and hence the price increase. Back into Cornwall I stopped at the Cornwall services and was told that they'd run out of LPG and were awaiting supplies, but unable to tell me why, or when they would get some. Is this somehow covid related, or are we being starved of lpg for some other reason? At a time when 'greener' vehicles should be being encouraged t's gradually becoming much more expensive and much harder to get hold of, what's going on?

[Brian_H]

I've seen stations go up in price around the colder times of year - that obviously should not be the problem now as it should be getting towards warming up and you'd hope anyone needing it for domestic purposes had already got it by now. A lot of the stations near me are currently out of order due to having the tanks removed for reasons that are unclear, but out of the remaining ones, there is a difference of 54.9 at Sainsburys 40 miles away from me, or 79.9 2 miles from me. Even the motorway services is cheaper than the MFG operated BP near to me (which are also the same lot that operate the Cornwall services and seem to have put their prices up to 79.9 across the board looking at recent updates on filllpg). The other few supermarket pumps around (none of which are closer than Sainsburys) are in the same 55-60p a litre range at the moment as well.

The trouble is most of the smaller suppliers have been absorbed into one of the two big players who then jack up the prices due to the lack of competition. Though some of the larger suppliers deserved to go given the way they behaved as well (Countrywide being the prime example, as they could never give you a straightforward answer to a simple question or for those who had bulk tanks, even any idea when the gas you'd ordered might be delivered). Not that in the case of the change from CWF to Flogas that it made it any better for account customers, pumps closed when you tried to use them with no commuication from Flogas where they had withdrawn them being the prime example, and account prices that are higher than most fuel stations which are more useful than some out of the way automated pump.

[Gilbertd]

I assumed it was because of lockdown they are selling less so bumping the price up. As I mentioned in the Shell thread, I did an almost reverse journey to Colin at the weekend to deliver a car on a trailer. Picked it up from Skegness and delivered it to Torquay. That was M6, M5 but coming back I had something to collect from Woking so filled up at Exeter Services then did the A303 on the way back. Was surprised to see as many garages selling LPG but all at prices starting with a 7. Couldn't get any at Luton so stopped at Wyboston on the A1 but at 72.9p I only bunged half a tank in knowing I had to be in Grantham first thing this morning and could fill up at the Esso St Leonards for 64.9 before heading home again. Only to get to Esso St Leonards and find it has gone up to 73.9 in the last couple of weeks!

Mind you, got a delivery to do in France later this week so anything under a quid a litre will be a bonus......

[Brian_H]

I've found Sainsburys at J22 (Colney) of the M25 usually is a good bet if your heading past that way at a reasonable price. Though I do wonder if that will last now as well given everywhere else seems to be going up now too.

[Gilbertd]

If I'm coming round the M25 from the West I always used to carry on to South Mimms and go up the A1 (as I live about a mile off J16) but since the M1 and A421 has been improved I tend to use that route instead. Maybe I should have stayed on the M25 for a couple more junctions......