After a weekend storm left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity in Lithuania as well, traders have reported a sharp increase in demand for generators and other emergency goods.
Some traders said that sales of generators had increased by as much as 30 times, and buyers were also snapping up chargers (power banks), portable gas stoves, flashlights and batteries. A similar peak in demand was observed only in 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At that time, Lithuanians bought generators both for themselves and to send to Ukraine.
Some Lithuanians have traveled a hundred kilometers or more to buy a generator. Tads from the Roķiškis district spent three days without electricity, and he only managed to find the generator he needed in Panevėžys. Lyubov went from Vilnius to Anykščiai district to get a generator. She said it was bad, and there was nowhere to even charge her phone. The local government had set up a point where residents could charge their phones, but it was complicated.
After the storm, generators became the most sought-after item. Sellers said that buyers were looking for devices of all possible sizes, and prices ranged from a few hundred euros. The price increased with the generator’s capacity.
Laurynas Nakas, head of the technical products department at Specagra, said that
people were not even particularly interested in the price, they were asking what was in stock
and what could be obtained quickly. He added that prices had not been raised – the company had what it had on offer. There were still a few units left, but they were reserved and waiting for buyers to come and pick them up.
Farmers were also among those looking for powerful generators. Nakas pointed out that cows need to be fed and watered. Most farmers who have called and asked for powerful generators have said they cannot water their cows because the water pumps are not working.
Generators can still be found in major cities, but retailers said that stocks are running out quickly. Kristina Petrulevičiūtė, communications manager for retailer Hermitage, said that stocks in Utena, Jonava and Vilnius have sold out. There are still a few units left in Klaipėda. A two-year trial of generators was reportedly sold over the weekend.
Buyers are also looking for other essential items for emergencies. Liubovė Aleksandra Zaiceva, communications manager for the Baltics at Senukai, said that people are making sure they have first aid kits, flashlights and other small items. Camping stoves are also being bought, and some products, such as large camping stoves, are already sold out.
Read the full article in English here: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/3033105/storm-leaves-lithuanian-shoppers-scrambling-for-generators-and-emergency-supplies
Read also: Three days after the storm, eleven thousand customers in Latvia are still without electricity