The price of butane once again punishes household budgets. As of this Tuesday, March 17, the standard 12.5 kilogram butane cylinder costs 16.35 euros, which represents an increase of 4.9% compared to the 15.58 euros set in january review. This upload, already published in the Official State Gazette (BOE)represents the second consecutive rise of the year and leaves the price of the traditional orange bottle at its highest level in recent months.
The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge attributes this rebound mainly to the volatility of international markets. The determining factor has been the cost of maritime transport (freight), which has shot up by 16.6% in the last two months. Added to this is a 3.2% increase in the price of raw materials, butane and propane, which could not be cushioned by the slight appreciation of the euro against the dollar (+1.2%) during this calculation period.
How the new price of butane is calculated
Unlike other supplies, the price of bottles between 8 and 20 kilos is not liberalized and is regulated through a system of bimonthly reviews that take place every third Tuesday of the month. Current regulations establish a maximum for these updates: the final price cannot fluctuate more than 5% up or down in each period. On this occasion, the 4.9% increase has practically exhausted the legal margin, leaving any accumulated excess cost for future reviews.
The base price set before taxes for this period is 106.63 cents per kilo. Marketing costs, the Special Tax on Hydrocarbons and 21% VAT are applied to this amount until the final cost paid by the user is completed, that is, 16.35 euros for the standard bottle.
This protection mechanism is essential for vulnerable consumers and homes located in areas where the piped gas network does not reach. Although the current cost is far from the historical maximum of 19.55 euros reached in 2022, the upward trend this quarter puts pressure back on the tightest family economies.
Decline in consumption
Despite continuing to be an essential element in the cooking and heating of many Spaniards, bottled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a fuel in clear decline. According to sector data, 57 million containers were consumed last year, a figure that reflects a 12% drop from 2021.
The progressive electrification of homes and the improvement of energy efficiency are reducing the importance of the cylinder, whose new price of 16.35 euros will be valid until the next review, scheduled for May 19.
Historical evolution of the price of the cylinder
Despite the current rebound, the price of butane still remains far from its historical ceiling. We must go back to May 2022 to find the point of greatest pressure on the consumer’s pocket, when the global energy crisis triggered the price to 19.55 euros. That maximum, which was extended for six months, contrasts with the volatility experienced in the last decade, where fuel has fluctuated below the ten euro barrier in periods of low international demand.
The following table details the bimonthly evolution of the regulated tariff, reflecting the adjustment cycles that have marked the cost of energy in Spain:
| Date | Price |
|---|---|
| July 21, 2020 | €12.72 |
| September 15, 2020 | €12.09 |
| November 17, 2020 | €12.69 |
| January 19, 2021 | €13.30 |
| March 16, 2021 | €13.96 |
| July 20, 2021 | €15.37 |
| September 21, 2021 | €16.13 |
| November 16, 2021 | €16.92 |
| January 18, 2022 | €17.76 |
| March 15, 2022 | €18.63 |
| May 17, 2022 | €19.55 |
| July 19, 2022 | €19.55 |
| September 20, 2022 | €19.55 |
| November 15, 2022 | €18.59 |
| January 17, 2023 | €17.67 |
| July 18, 2023 | €15.18 |
| September 19, 2023 | €14.43 |
| January 16, 2024 | €15.89 |
| March 19, 2024 | €16.67 |
| May 21, 2024 | €16.14 |
| July 18, 2024 | €15.34 |
| September 17, 2024 | €15.93 |
| November 18, 2024 | €16.61 |
| January 20, 2025 | €16.64 |
| March 18, 2025 | €17.67 |
| May 20, 2025 | €18.00 |
| July 15, 2025 | €17.11 |
| September 16, 2025 | €16.27 |
| November 20, 2025 | €15.46 |
| January 20, 2026 | €15.58 |
| March 17, 2026 | €16.35 |