Gasoline and diesel prices decline at gas stations, says ANP

After a sharp rise with the transfer of the mega-increases promoted by Petrobras two weeks ago, gasoline and diesel prices dropped at Brazilian gas stations this week, according to the ANP (Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás e Biocombustíveis).

Gasoline dropped 0.8%, for an average national price of R$ 7,210 per litre. The highest price detected by the ANP was R$ 8.949 per liter, in Jequié (BA). Last week, the highest value had been seen in Balsas (MA), with R$ 8,399.

Diesel had a drop of 1.3%, to R$ 6,564 per liter. The ANP found the fuel being sold at R$7,970 per liter in Balsas (MA). It is lower than the R$ 7,980 verified in the previous week in Ilhéus (BA).

Cooking gas rose 0.6%, to R$ 113.24 per 13-kilogram cylinder. The product was found at a maximum price of R$ 160 in Rio Branco (AC). It is the same value detected in the previous week in Sinop (MT).

The increase also reflects transfers of the mega-increases announced by Petrobras two weeks ago, when sales prices of gasoline, diesel and cooking gas at its refineries were raised by 18.8%, 24.9% and 16.1%.

In the first week after the readjustments, gasoline and diesel prices had risen 8.7% and 14.4%, respectively, at Brazilian gas stations.

The rise in fuel prices has generated new pressure for changes in Petrobras’ pricing policy and has become a hotbed of friction between President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and the state-owned company’s president, General Joaquim Silva e Luna.

In recent weeks, the government has announced proposals to try to reduce prices, such as an exemption from federal taxes on diesel, not yet implemented, and an import tax on anhydrous ethanol, which is blended with gasoline.

This second measure, however, has almost no impact on the pump price, since only a small portion of the national consumption of anhydrous ethanol is supplied by imported products.

According to a calculation by consultant Dietmar Schupp, a specialist in fuel taxation, the transfer of the exemption in the current scenario would represent an average saving of only R$ 0.004 per liter of gasoline.

Also after the readjustments, the government managed to approve in Congress the change in the ICMS collection system, establishing a single rate in reais per liter throughout the country.

This Thursday (25), however, the states approved an alternative that circumvents the unification of the tax, by establishing a maximum rate of R$ 1.006 per liter with the possibility of discounts.

Thus, each state must give a discount equivalent to the difference between the maximum rate and the amount it charges today in tax, keeping the rate at the same level as before the law.

According to the ANP, the price of hydrated ethanol rose 0.3% this week, to R$4.952 per liter. CNG (natural gas for vehicles) was practically stable compared to the previous week, at R$ 4,750 per cubic meter.