The price of a gas bottle has risen again, which could affect many Portuguese families, especially those who use the cylinder to cook or heat water. The increase has been accompanied by requests for tax relief and new discussions about the weight of taxes on the final amount paid by consumers.
The 13-kilo T3 butane bottle, one of the most used in Portugal, had an efficient price for April 2026 with margins of 38.99 euros, according to . This value represents an increase of 17.4% compared to March, reflecting the evolution of international butane prices.
Efficient Pricing Meaning
The efficient price is not necessarily the price charged in each store. This is a monthly reference calculated by ERSE based on average costs and margins, in accordance with Regulation No. 1184/2022. The advertised price corresponds to the final value informed by the operators and actually charged to the consumer.
In the April report, ERSE pointed out that, in March, the 13-kilo T3 butane bottle had an advertised price 1.12 euros above the efficient price with margins. Still, the regulator emphasizes that these differences do not mean, in themselves, the existence of irregularities.
DECO asks for lower VAT
The company argues that bottled gas should have a reduced VAT rate, as is the case with some electricity and natural gas.
According to the organization, a 13-kilogram butane cylinder that cost an average of R$34.32 in March could exceed R$38 by the end of May, affecting around 2.1 million homes that still use this source of energy.
Anarec also took the issue to Parliament
The National Association of Fuel Dealers (Anarec) was heard in Parliament on April 14 of this year, in a hearing related to several legislative initiatives on the reduction of VAT applied to bottled gas. Among the projects under discussion were proposals to reduce the ICMS on butane and propane gas cylinders.
In an opinion associated with the parliamentary discussion, it is said that Portugal applies a VAT rate of 23% to bottled LPG. The same document estimates that a possible reduction in VAT to 6% could reduce the average selling price to the public by around 13.8% for T3 bottles, which would be equivalent to savings of approximately 4.5 to 4.7 euros per bottle.
Solidarity cylinder support was reinforced
Given the rise in prices, support from the Solidarity Gas Bottle was also updated. DGEG indicates that, as of March 25 of this year, the co-participation temporarily increased from 15 to 25 euros per LPG cylinder, for 90 days, maintaining the remaining conditions of the program.
This support is aimed at economically vulnerable domestic customers, including beneficiaries of the Social Electricity Tariff and families in which at least one member receives minimum social benefits. The program allows support for two cylinders per month, up to a maximum limit of 12 cylinders per year.
The discussion about the price of a gas cylinder should continue, especially as long as the final value remains close to 39 euros. Between the weight of international prices, the tax burden and distribution costs, consumers and resellers argue that the issue requires a broader response than specific support.
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