Demand for charcoal is climbing in the Philippines as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices have roughly doubled [1].

This shift reflects a growing economic strain on small-scale food vendors and households who rely on affordable energy to maintain their livelihoods. As primary cooking fuels become cost-prohibitive, the return to traditional biomass fuels highlights the vulnerability of the local supply chain to global price volatility.

At Aling Clara’s Wet and Dry Market in Baclaran, Parañaque, and the Kamuning Market in Manila, vendors are adjusting their operations to cope with the costs. Raida Gante, a street vendor, has altered her schedule to accommodate the change. Gante now starts selling barbecue earlier than usual, setting up her grill by 9:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. [2].

Mario Garcia, another vendor, said the switch to charcoal provides a necessary financial cushion. "That's a huge saving because, just imagine, a tank of LPG only lasts three weeks," Garcia said [3].

The price surge is linked to broader market disruptions. Data indicates that Middle East LPG exports dropped 73% month-on-month [4]. This plunge in supply has forced a shift in sourcing, with some Asian markets turning toward the U.S. for LPG alternatives [4].

For vendors like Gante and Garcia, the 100% increase in LPG prices [1] makes charcoal the only viable option to keep food prices stable for their customers. The reliance on charcoal, a more labor-intensive fuel, underscores the desperation to avoid closing businesses during the price hike.

“Demand for charcoal is climbing in the Philippines as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices have roughly doubled.”

The pivot from LPG to charcoal indicates a regression in energy efficiency for Philippine street vendors, driven by a sharp contraction in Middle Eastern supply. This trend suggests that local food inflation may be mitigated by vendors absorbing costs through harder labor, but it also increases the environmental pressure on charcoal production and exposes the domestic economy to the volatility of the global LPG trade.