The norm, in detail
Gas cylinders: free prices and an open market
Decree 446/2025
in forceNATIONAL
Market deregulation
What changed and who it applies to
What changed
Decree 446/2025 amends Law 26.020 (the LPG regulatory framework) so that LPG prices, supply and demand are governed by the free and competitive functioning of the market. It repeals article 30 of Law 26.020 (Maximum Reference Prices for household-use cylinders), eliminating state price-setting. It replaces the Energy Secretariat's prior authorization to operate as a bottler (art. 12), distributor (art. 24) and marketer (art. 31) with a simple filing of documentation, with verification in 10 business days and positive administrative silence. It adds art. 35 authorizing the free import of LPG without prior authorization. It reduces the state role to safety oversight (it repeals arts. 7, 10, 15, 30, 34 and 36; a new art. 37 centered on safety). verif · Jul 2, 2025 ↗
In force
In force since its publication in the Official Gazette on 07/03/2025. verif · Jul 3, 2025 ↗
Who it affects
Bottlers, distributors, marketers and importers of LPG, and household cylinder consumers. LPG supplies a significant portion of Argentine households without access to a natural-gas network. verif · Jul 2, 2025 ↗
The norm
Decreto 446/2025 (DECTO-2025-446-APN-PTE), national Executive, signed on Jul 2, 2025 by Milei, Guillermo Francos and Luis Caputo. It amends Ley 26.020, the regulatory framework for the LPG (GLP) industry and its commercialization. verif · Jul 2, 2025 ↗
Our reading
A market is freed that supplies much of the households without a gas network: the maximum reference prices, prior authorizations and import obstacles fall, and a 10-day positive silence comes in. Through R4 (deregulation), less compliance cost and more possible players open competition for bottlers, distributors and satellite importers. What is worth watching: the price liberalization coexists with a user who paid the most expensive cylinder in real terms, so the pro-competition effect takes time to reach the pocket. thesis
Where it lands, province by province1
Neuquén Neuquén produces close to 70% of the country's gas and has liquids separation in its RIGI portfolio: LPG is born here. With the maximum bottle price gone and the prior authorisation to bottle, distribute or import replaced by positive silence at 10 days, the bottling and distribution link stops being closed off in the very province that holds the molecule at source. favorable opening and deregulation thesis
The other rules on this subject36
The IGJ digitizes companies' financial statementsIGJ General Res. 9/2026 (RESOG-2026-9-APN-IGJ#MJ), Official Gazette Jul 2, 2026in force
Domestic trade: price-control and intervention rules fallRes. 12/2026 SIC (Official Gazette Jun 9, 2026)in force
Ley Hojarasca: cleanup of the legal framework (still in the Senate)Bill CD-1/26 (half-sanction May 20, 2026)pending
Ignacio Aredez· Chief analyst
Credentials and track record →
Weekly newsletter · free
Get on board the takeoff
This week’s updates: reforms, RIGI and verified program data and new provinces as they launch. Free.
no spam
we read every one
Fact sheet built on the published rule, with the gaps declared. Back to the reforms
How to read the seals → verif primary source · prob primary source pending · unconf not sufficiently backed · estim our own calculation · thesis our reading