With the increase since Monday of less than 4.3%, a liter of super petrol in the city of Buenos Aires now costs more than $800 a litre. In some inland cities, such as Posadas (Misiones), you can get it for more than $950. The nearly 20% gap could be larger in isolated inland cities, but the difference between the values of the same fuels is repeated throughout the country.
There are factors that explain this: oil companies historically aimed to”logistics cost“of transferring petrol and diesel from refineries. Furthermore, the competence It is higher in urban centers than in other places, which tends to drive prices down so brands can gain market share.
And now gas station owners are claiming a new reason that makes fuel more expensive: municipal taxes which began to multiply in the outskirts of Buenos Aires and in the interior.
The stationers united in the Confederation of Hydrocarbons and Related Commercial Bodies (Cecha), which brings together the 5269 stations of the country, they look with amazement at how More and more mayors apply “road tax” on their land or with similar names on fuel consumption, without specific impact and with a double taxation about the same thing.
The fact is that, they say, the road tax is unconstitutional and does not comply with the regime co-participationwhere is the national fuel taxes – which this year are adjusted monthly from February to June and involve constant increases – 10.4% are distributed to the provinces, and from these to the municipalities for road works, infrastructure and electricity.
There are some mayors who impose a fixed amount on the final price of fuel, which makes petrol and diesel more and more expensive for consumers. And others who have programmed a fixed rate, so that it is not liquefied if there is a lag in prices compared to inflation.
Municipalities like it José C. Paz, the road charge rises to $9.28 for liquids (about 1% of the price) and to $6.37 for vehicular compressed natural gas (CNG). In San Isidrothe fee is called “for animal protection services” and is $3 per litre.
in the meantime a Pinamar The rate is 3% and super petrol ranges from $967 to $994, so the municipality receives more than $30 per liter of fuel sold, taking into account that other varieties are more expensive.
This fiscal voracity is read as a “exorbitant greed“among the owners of the broadcasters, who turn en masse to Justice and want to involve non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in consumer protection in their battle.
In turn, they say it rosary beads Mayor Pablo Javkin approved a 1.6% road tax. By the way, this week the gas stations went back to working on the night shift after crime of the sandpiperpresumably by a hitman hired by the “narcoterrorism“.
There is deep concern among gas station owners about the safety of their employees, as well as extortion and threats. Here because They asked for a meeting with Minister Patricia Bullrich and await your call, in which they will offer you their facilities, as far as possible logistics base of the police (bathrooms, cafes and other useful services).
The economic crisis and its impact on fuels
Since November, Petrol and diesel prices accumulate a 220% increase in just four months. At the time, according to the consultant, they were at their lowest value in 30 years Nicola ArceoFrom Economy and energy; while last month they were just 7.5% below the average of the last 14 years.
The other side is the decrease in fuel consumption of 4.93% on an annual basis between January and February.
According to data from the Ministry of Energy, in the first two months of 2024, public sales of grade 2 diesel decreased by 3.14% annually; those with grade 3 diesel (premium diesel), 6.3%; and those with grade 3 petrol dropped by 21.49%. Sales of grade 2 (super) petrol grew by just 0.73%, reflecting a shift in demand towards cheaper options.
This implies a profitability problem for the sector, as they charge 9% for grade 2 fuels and 10.27% for the more expensive grade 3.
In this table the increases have been added, the reduction of the gap with neighboring countries, which reduced demand from Chile, Paraguay and Brazil (in Posadas, petrol sales decreased by 37% and diesel sales by 42% in the stations service) and the from the retail channel to the wholesale channel – which is usually cheaper, but last year starting from August it became more expensive – after prices were “normalized”.
At the beginning of the year YPF has gained market share (market share), from 53.42% to 57.66%, and all other competitors fell. This trend moderated in March, according to industry sources.
Each gas station must sell at least 250,000 liters per month to reach the break-even point. According to what was reported to the Chamber, 45% are unable to compensate for their costs, also increased by the increase in electricity tariffs of over 170% and by employee parity, which has exceeded inflation and reached 298%. A beachgoer earns around $1 million as a base salary.
SN
Source: Clarin
