Brazil: Gasoline and natural gas increase; a liter of diesel can cost up to US$1.25

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Even before the full impact of the price increase implemented by Petrobras and Acelen on diesel and gasoline last week, the two fuels registered an average increase of 1.4% and 0.2% in prices in the week from January 9 through 15, respectively.

Compressed natural gas (CNG) also rose by an average of 1.2%, while the price of cooking gas fell 0.3% and ethanol remained stable.

The data are from the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), which detected the highest price for diesel in the Southeast region, at R$6.90 (US$1.25)/liter, 3% above the highest price the week before (R$6.70/liter). The lowest diesel price was found in the Northeast, at R$4.07, 15% below the lowest price of the week from January 2 through 8.

Both Petrobras and Acelen (controller of the Mataripe Refinery, in Bahia, formerly Rlam) raised the price of diesel and gasoline last week, following the hike in oil prices in the international market, which this month have appreciated 10.6% compared to late December last year. Petrobras raised diesel by 8% and gasoline by 4.8% on January 12th, while Acelen made adjustments of up to 5.1% for gasoline and up to 8.4% for diesel on Saturday, January 15.

According to the ANP, gasoline prices remain at a maximum of R$7.899/l, registered at gas stations in the Southeast region, the same as last week. The minimum price was R$5.569/l, down 1.9% against the same period, found in gas stations in the South region.

The maximum price of cooking gas, or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in a 13-kilo cylinder, was raised again to R$140, after having dropped to R$135 in the first week of January. Nevertheless, the average price in Brazil is R$102.24 per cylinder, against R$102.55 the week before, a 0.3% drop.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is impacted by the hike in natural gas prices in the international market, driven by the winter in the northern hemisphere, which increases the use of heating. The product had a 1.2% increase in the average price in Brazil from January 9 through 1, with a maximum price of R$ 6.199 per cubic meter (m3) in the Southeast and a minimum of R$3.179/m3 in the Midwest.

The average price of ethanol remained virtually stable, at R$5.046/l, down 0.09% in relation to the average of the previous week, with the lowest price found in the Southeast, at R$4.329/l, and the highest in the South, at R$7.699/l.