With the last price increase that was applied to fuels nationwide, suppliers in the region registered increases of up to 13%in just two months. It not only means that the increases in 2023 were above the national average, but also that were higher than officially announced by the government.
According to the announcements, gasoline and diesel this year were going to increase 4% in January and another 4% in FebruaryHowever, the Neuquén and General Roca pumps showed increases (accumulated) between 10% and 13%, that is, up to 5% above what was reported.
And if the increase in December 2022 is taken into account, fuels registered cumulative increases of up to almost 20%, in three months, despite the fact that it should have been of the order of 12%, according to what was announced at the national level. This is a percentage difference of up to 8%, mainly in the highest quality products.
- 19,79%
- This is what increased the price of first-line diesel in Neuquén Capital, since November 2022.
The data comes from the official reports of the National Energy Secretariat and from a survey carried out by Power On. Before going fully into the numbers, it is important to review what the government announced.
In November of last year, the national government and the main fuel producers in the country agreed staggered increases between December 2022 and March 2023, within the framework of the Fair Prices program. An average increase at the national level of 4% was set for the first three months, which has already been applied, and the one for March still remains, which would be 3.8%.
- 3,8%
- It will be the fuel increase floor that has been agreed for next month.
As this medium was able to find out, private production companies are pressing for the March increase to be higher than the one announced last year. The arguments would be that, despite the increases, the delay in prices at the pumps is still in force.
But there is also a high degree of uncertainty regarding the measures that the national government will apply to the fuel market, taking into account that it is an election year. No official confirmation The sector speculates with a new price freezestarting in April.
Increases of up to almost 20% in three months
Considering the fuel prices in November of last year, before the phased increases begin, suppliers in the region accumulated increases between 15% and almost 20%. While the national average that the government had announced anticipated increases of up to 12%, in the period between December and February.
In November of last year, before the Fair Prices program for fuels became official, the service stations of Neuquén capital and General Roca registered these prices:
In Neuquén, a liter of Super gasoline was worth $125.60 and a liter of Premium $158.50. As for diesel, grade 2 cost $165.80 and grade 3 $219.30.
In the case of General Roca, the prices were $124.80 for the Super and $157.70 for the Premium, while the cheapest diesel is $168.50 and the top-of-the-line $226.
With the last increase that was applied on Wednesday of last week, prices in Neuquén were as follows: the liter of Super and Premium at $146.3 and $189.70respectively, and grade 2 and 3 diesel at $191.10 and $262.70, in each case.
- $270,3
- is the price of a liter of grade 3 diesel oil in General Roca, following the rise in February.
In Roca, a liter of Super was $144.70; the liter of Premium at $188.40; grade 2 diesel at $194 and grade 3 at $270.30.
Thus, if we compare the prices at the Neuquén pumps of November with those in force, we see that Super gasoline increased by 16.48% and Premium by another 19.68%. In the case of diesel, grade 2 rose 15.26% and grade 3 another 19.79%.
In the case of General Roca, the cheapest gasoline increased by 15.95%; the first line 19.47%; grade 2 diesel 15.13% and, finally, grade 3 another 19.60%.
The March Rising
Still without an official date of application, the last increase agreed between the government and producers within the framework of the Fair Prices program would have a floor of 3.8%, on average at the national level. Taking into account the last three increases, it is likely that the next adjustment will be applied following the middle of the month, as it happened in January and February.
Regarding what has been seen so far, it would not be surprising if history repeated itself in March and the increases in the region were more pronounced compared to the national average.
Fuel taxes: in April there might be a new increase
The roadmap for increases agreed upon by the producers and the government lasts until next month, however, in April there might be a new adjustment due to fuel taxes. As always happens, the button is held by the national government and a new postponement is not ruled out.
In December of last year, the national government postponed by decree the update of the Taxes on Liquid Fuels (ICL) and Carbon Dioxide (IDC) until next April 1. And despite the fact that this means millions in losses to the State, the objective was to avoid more pronounced increases in pumps, since the producers transfer it to the consumers.
When Decree 864/22 was published in the Official Gazette, April was far away on the calendar, but today is not only close, but the national government begins to feel the pressure of the election yearl with key indicators out of control, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The Fair Prices Program established increases in gasoline and diesel until next month, and as established by decree, tax adjustment (and its transfer to the sale price) gets spliced With which, the increases might continue for at least another month.
Most likely, as has happened so far, the government once once more postpones the update of the fuel tax burden, although there is still no announcement regarding it. Otherwise, next month there might be a new increase in the pumps.
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