Butane price rises again: The traditional cylinder now costs €15.58 from Tuesday

Spanish households who use butane for heating and cooking will see their costs rise slightly but noticeably starting Tuesday, 20th January. The maximum retail price for gas in canisters of 20 kg, the iconic orange butane bottle, has been set at €15.58, moving up 0.7 per cent compared to the previous revision in November.

The adjustment was published in the official journal. Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE) by a resolution of the Directorate General for Energy Policy. The increase, although modest, will impact millions of households, especially in rural and urban areas that are not connected to the gas grid.

Why is this price rise?

According to Ministry sources, the main factors driving up the price are:

• A +5.1 per cent rise in freight (transportation) costs
• International markets: raw materials (propane, butane) prices increase by +3.8%
• Euro depreciation against the Dollar: -0.4%

These elements are directly incorporated into the bimonthly formula.

How does the price of butane get calculated and regulated?

The price of butane (the main gas) in bottled form is not liberalised by the Spanish government, as it is for many other products. To protect consumers from market fluctuations, the government sets a maximum price for retail.

Every two months the revision is held on the third Tuesday (in months with odd numbers: January, February, and so on). The formula takes into account three main variables:

• Prices of raw materials on the international market (propane, butane).
• Freight (transportation) costs
• Euro-dollar exchange rate evolution

A built-in safeguard caps any change – up or down – at 5 per cent. If the calculated change exceeds the limit, any excess (or deficit) will be carried over into future revisions.

This latest adjustment follows a period of successive price reductions, with the cylinder standing at €15.46 since late 2025.

Butane: its role in Spanish households

Many Spanish homes rely on bottled gas as an alternative energy source to natural gas, especially in places without access to pipelines. The traditional orange 12.5 kg cylinder is used widely for cooking, space heating and water heating.

In spite of its importance, the consumption is steadily decreasing. Spain uses 64,5 millions cylinders per year of different sizes. In the period between 2010 and 2020, the total packaged LPG demand fell by over 25%, reflecting a wider shift to natural gas pipes, electricity and alternative renewable energy sources.

The butane gas cylinder is still an important part of thousands households and restaurants. This holds true, particularly during the winter, when demand peaks. The next price review is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3rd 2026.