Ahmedabad: The continuing shortage of LPG cylinders across parts of Gujarat is disrupting the state’s jewellery industry, hitting small goldsmiths and artisans the hardest. The crisis affects makers of gold, silver and imitation jewellery alike.Artisans rely heavily on LPG-fuelled flame torches for soldering, melting and repairing ornaments. With access to cylinders tightening, many small workshops are rationing usage or cutting output.Hemant Choksi, general secretary of Shree Manek Chowk Choksi Mahajan, said the impact goes to the core of metalwork. “Jewellery needs soldering — glue is not an option. Flame torches and soldering guns depend on gas. Only a few use electric torches, so the supply crunch is hitting artisans hard.” He warned that prolonged shortages could push up making charges.Across the value chain, production schedules are being reworked. Independent designers and brands are also feeling the pressure. Nirjari Shah, founder of a jewellery brand in Ahmedabad, said that while production continues, constraints are evident. “Our artisans in Kolkata often had to procure cylinders through intermediaries at higher costs. Output has dropped, so we’re optimising inventory and ordering as required.“Priyanka Desai, another Ahmedabad-based jewellery brand founder, said delivery cycles are already stretched. “Most vendors depend on gas units. When they don’t get cylinders, production stops. There’s already a marginal rise in input costs as we help vendors secure cylinders. Deliveries that earlier took 6-7 days now take 10-12.”Entrepreneurs fear the gap between organised players with stable supply access and small, informal artisans could widen if the situation persists.Sanjay Soni, president of the Manek Chowk Imitation Jewellery Association, said the shortage is weighing on imitation jewellery manufacturing as well, though the immediate impact is muted due to the seasonal slowdown. He noted that 30-40% of handmade jewellery work still depends on LPG. While around 60% of brass jewellery manufacturing uses casting machines and some have shifted to electric soldering, many karigars still need LPG for precision work.With the sector supporting over 12,000 families and already facing weak demand and rising input costs, prolonged disruptions could further strain margins. At least 500 imitation jewellery traders operate in Manek Chowk and Kalupur. Soni warned that if shortages continue, making charges may rise, and costs could climb 20-25% over time. Info boxBurning issueLPG cylinder shortages force small workshops to ration usage and reduce output across segmentsArtisans depending on gas-fuelled torches for soldering and melting processes struggle to maintain workflowJewellery brands report higher cylinder procurement costs and reduced artisan outputDelivery timelines have stretched significantly as vendors face restricted commercial gas supplyImitation jewellery makers warn prolonged shortages may elevate making charges, widen inequality, and push overall manufacturing costs up by nearly 25%Photo Quotes: Order deliveries are delayed to customer. Due to the gas shortage, turnaround time has doubled from 10 days to 20 days | Jigar Soni, president, Jewellers’ Association of Ahmedabad It’s a double whammy. After the wedding season, order volumes have already dropped due to high gold and silver prices. Now, the LPG crisis is impacting turnaround times for existing orders. With commercial supply taking a hit, many artisans whose revenues are impacted are borrowing from suppliers | Hemant Choksi, secretary, Manek Chowk Choksi Mahajan
