Shanghai Luzhen SCM Co., Ltd. successfully concluded its participation in the 7th West Africa LPG Expo – Côte d'Ivoire 2026, held on September 2–3 at the Parc des Expositions in Abidjan.
At Booth 69, our team spent two productive days meeting professionals from across the LPG value chain. More than 50 potential customers and industry partners visited or connected with us during the exhibition, including LPG filling station operators, cylinder and accessory distributors, LPG cylinder manufacturers, brand representatives and other industry professionals.
More importantly, every conversation gave us a better understanding of how the LPG industry is developing across Côte d'Ivoire and the wider West African market.
Why West Africa Matters to the LPG Industry
West Africa is becoming an increasingly important market for LPG and clean cooking solutions.
Côte d'Ivoire provides a clear example of this development. According to figures presented during the Expo, the country's butane consumption increased from approximately 242,000 tonnes in 2015 to more than 749,000 tonnes in 2024.
Behind this growth is an expanding LPG ecosystem involving filling and distribution infrastructure, cylinders, valves, regulators, cylinder manufacturing, maintenance, transportation and many other supporting products and services.
This growing demand is one of the key reasons why Luzhen chose Abidjan as an important stop in our African market development.
As a supplier deeply involved in the gas cylinder industry, we believe that understanding a market cannot be achieved through online communication alone. Meeting local manufacturers, distributors and LPG businesses face to face allows us to better understand their actual requirements, challenges and future plans.
More Than 50 Conversations, Different Needs, One Industry
One of the most valuable parts of the exhibition was the diversity of the visitors we met.
Some customers were looking for LPG cylinders and cylinder components. Some were interested in raw materials such as steel coils and steel discs. Others discussed cylinder valves, valve seats, foot rings, guards, welding materials, LPG regulators, cylinder stoves or LPG cylinder production equipment with our team.
We also met businesses operating filling stations and distribution networks that were looking for solutions related to different parts of the LPG supply chain.
Rather than simply introducing products, our team focused on understanding each customer's application, local market and purchasing requirements before discussing possible solutions.
These conversations also gave us valuable first-hand insights into the different stages of LPG industry development across West African markets.
From Johannesburg to Abidjan
The West Africa LPG Expo was another important milestone for Luzhen following our participation in the LPG industry event in Johannesburg, South Africa, in April 2026.
From Southern Africa to West Africa, these face-to-face exchanges continue to strengthen our understanding of the African LPG market and, more importantly, help us build long-term relationships with the people working directly within the industry.
For us, an exhibition is not the end of a business trip-it is the beginning of deeper communication.
We are now actively following up with the customers and partners we met in Abidjan, learning more about their projects and exploring how our supply capabilities can support their businesses.
Supporting the LPG Cylinder Supply Chain in West Africa
With nearly 20 years of experience in the gas cylinder industry, Shanghai Luzhen SCM Co., Ltd. provides an integrated supply solution covering:
Steel Coil → Steel Disc → Cylinder Heads → Foot Ring & Guard → Valve Seat → Cylinder Valve → LPG Regulators → Cylinder Stoves → Welding Materials & Powder Coating → Finished LPG Cylinder → Cylinder Production Equipment
By bringing these products and resources together within one supply chain, we aim to help cylinder manufacturers and LPG businesses simplify sourcing, improve supply coordination and find solutions tailored to their local requirements.
Our participation in Côte d'Ivoire has strengthened our confidence in the potential of the West African LPG industry.
We look forward to maintaining close communication with the friends and partners we met in Abidjan, serving our existing customers better, and supporting more LPG businesses throughout West Africa with reliable products, technical knowledge and a complete gas cylinder supply chain.
Thank you, Abidjan. See you again in West Africa.
Shanghai Luzhen SCM Co., Ltd.
