(Alexandre Battibugli / Prime Time Zone)
The average price of gasoline at gas stations in Brazil ended the month of February at the highest level in more than a year, breaking the barrier of 5 reais per liter, while the value of diesel hit the mark of 4 reais, said the electronic payment company ValeCard this Thursday.
According to the company, the average value of a liter of gasoline in the country reached 5.16 reais in February, the ninth consecutive monthly increase and an increase of 6.57% compared to January, while diesel rose 6.16% compared to the previous month, to 4.032 reais a liter.
ValeCard pointed out that the gain in prices is linked to the high prices of the Petroleum e do dollar, the main influences of Petrobras’ pricing policy, which have triggered successive increases in fuel prices at state-owned refineries.
“In 2020, we had a reduction in the price of fuel, because demand fell due to the pandemic. But now oil has gone up again, and Petrobras passes this amount on to the consumer,” said the São Paulo branch manager in a note. from ValeCard, Leandro Ferraz.
“Another factor that directly affects the change in the value of the dollar. We import fuel and pay in dollars. With the devaluation of the real, we are paying more,” he added.
A Petrobras it raised prices for diesel and gasoline at refineries on two occasions throughout February, and in early March readjusted them upward again. In 2021, gasoline has already undergone five readjustments and accumulated an increase of 41.5%, while diesel adds up to a 34% gain after four readjustments.
The value of fuel has remained in the spotlight in Brazil, especially after a threat of a truckers strike in early February.
Since then, the president Jair Bolsonaro decided to send Congress a bill to change the ICMS charge on fuels, temporarily exempted the PIS / Cofins levied on the products and indicated a change in the Petrobras command, after friction related to the state’s pricing policy with the current CEO, Roberto Castello Branco.
According to ValeCard, the biggest increase in gasoline prices in February was registered in Amazonas (7.81%), while the most expressive increase in diesel was seen in Espírito Santo (8.84%).
The survey is based on the registration of transactions carried out between February 1st and 27th with the ValeCard supply card in approximately 20 thousand accredited establishments.
