Egyptian consumption and production of butane decreased in July 2017. The country pumped approximately 1 million cylinders per day, a decrease of 35,000 tons of butane per month.

Butane consumption dropped slightly after the price increase for petroleum products, the Head of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), Abed Ezz El Regal, told Amwal Al Ghad, adding that total butane sales for the first half of 2017 averaged 1.1 million cylinders per day.

Butane monthly production is estimated at around 165,000 tons, which is around 50% of local consumption, Ezz El Regal noted. He added expansion of the national gas grid to new households and commercial and industrial units will eventually decrease the need to import butane.

The price of butane cylinders rose 100% after the government’s recent decision to hike fuel prices. They now cost EGP 30 per cylinder, compared to EGP 15 per cylinder before the increase. Despite the higher consumer prices, the government still pays a subsidy of EGP 115 per butane cylinder