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Prices on the international market for LPG rose continuously throughout the previous week while the domestic markets for LPG were decreasing in the immediately preceding week

Key Development in Nigeria's LPG Market
The international prices of LPG reached their apex point at the end of the previous week despite increases from the beginning of the week.
Depot prices were on the fallen note in the preceding week with a minimum of N477.94 per kg in the previous week.
The market gaps between prices at the depot and those at the international level continued to narrow as more depots gained their strength to load LPG from the depot
In the week under review and the previous two weeks, price variations in LPG per kg remained within a narrow range.
Within the Nigeria region, regional variations in LPG retail prices continue to exist.

Regional Disparity in Retail
The regional variation in LPG prices across Nigeria has been a recurring feature of the Nigerian LPG industry. The South West area has the lowest rates due to its closeness to the coastal region.

Macroeconomics Variables and the LPG Market

Inflation Rate and the LPG: Inflation has consistently fallen over the last eight months. It fell from 15.99% in October to 15.40% in November 2021, (See Illustration D). Coupled with the high prices of goods and services in the month of December 2021, the expected inflation rate is 17.01%. This is due to Xmas and New Year festive that are fast approaching. In April 2021, it fell from 18.12% to 17.93%. in May 2021 The composite food index reduced to 18.34% in October from 19.57% in September 2021, 20.57 per cent in January 2021, 20.30% in August 2021, and 15.48 per cent in July 2020, compared to 15.18 per cent in June 2020. For the month of May, a 15.4 per cent inflation rate is expected. The relaxation of the Covid-19 rule may have influenced the inflation rate trend.

Exchange Rate and the LPG: In line with widening discrepancies in the parallel market, the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) adjusted the exchange rate to fine-tune the forex market. (Figure E). Movement in the exchange rate along the same line was increasing and ranged from 414.26 to 414.89/US$1 in the previous week. One of the factors that influence the price of LPG on the international market is the exchange rate. Since more LPG is imported, a lower exchange rate has little impact on the selling price of LPG on the local market.

Crude oil price and the LPG: The price of LPG is positively related to the price of crude oil since it is sometimes a by-product of crude oil. The Prices of crude oil in the international market reached their highest point before the end of the week, however, they ended on a fallen note (Figure F). The cost of LPG increases as the price of crude oil falls on the international market. This suggests a low LPG market price.

Foreign Reserves: The Nigerian Gross Foreign Reserve dropped from $40.52 billion to $40.49 billion last week. Despite a rise in the reserves, the exchange rate was ranged from 411.63 to 410.64 in the previous week. This is positively correlated to the crude oil prices that experienced a sharp fall at the end of the week. A decrease in the reserve might be a result of the reduction in the prices of crude oil over the preceding week.

PMI: The CBN Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) recorded overall growth in employment, business and inventory in the month of December while ordering in the category of supply for power, gas, steam and air conditioning remained stagnant while business operation & inventory were static in the same month at 45.7 per cent.

All the market indices point at a further decline in the cost of cooking gas...

Current Topical Issues of the Week
Covid-19: Covid-19 causes demand for goods and services to fall due to the full or partial lock-down effect. The implication of the Covid-19 contracts to the LPG market

Omicron Variant: A new strain of COVID-19 recently detected in southern Africa as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization is also no doubt causing concern among the world leaders. The implication of this variant contracts the LPG market if not curtailed early.

Policy Recommendations
Reducing the effect of the Covid-19 entails more campaigns and public awareness of the virus as people are easily carried away and relaxing. Vaccines for Covid-19 should be distributed without much delay if available. Members of the public should endeavour to take the vaccine in designated hospitals recommended by the federal government.

Outlook: Coming Weeks
The prices in the weeks to come may rise due to pressure on the supply of butane coupled with the increase in the price of goods and services in the country

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