Gasoline sales dropped as sales of cheaper fuels rose in 2010

Last year, retail sales of diesel fuel and liquefied gas in Moldova reached 215,600 and 58,600 tonnes, which is respectively 6.3% and 10.4% more than in 2009, according to statistics of the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE). At the same time, sales of gasoline dropped by 6.1% to 183,800 tonnes, Info-Prim Neo reports. ANRE data show the fluctuation of prices made consumers choose cheaper fuels like diesel fuel and liquefied gas, which is nearly twice cheaper than gasoline. In 2010, the average retail sale price of gasoline (VAT included) increased by 32.3%, of diesel fuel by 25% and that of liquefied gas by only 10.4%. Last year, gasoline prices changed 8 times, diesel fuel- 5 times and liquefied gas- 4 times. The highest prices were in December 2010, when a liter of AI gasoline had a cost of 14.95 lei, diesel fuel of 13.4 lei and liquefied gas of 7.8 lei. Retail prices increased as a result of the rise of import prices, national currency depreciation, 50% higher gasoline and diesel fuel excises. Following the significant rise in oil prices at international stocks (Platt’s prices increased by 25.6% for gasoline and 28.7% for diesel fuel), the average import cost of gasoline swelled by 23% and of diesel fuel by 26.7%. Meanwhile, the average import prices for liquefied gas increased by 35.7%, In national currency, because its depreciation against US dollar, average import costs of gasoline, diesel fuel and liquefied gas increased by 31.3%, 37.3% and 42.7% respectively. The ANRE report proves the main factor determining retail sales prices of these products is the average import cost. In 2010, it accounted for 53.5% of gasoline price, 64% of diesel fuel and 65.6% of liquefied gas prices. The biggest fuel importers in Moldova were Lukoil Moldova (31.1% of gasoline imports, 33.2% of diesel fuel and 25.1% of liquefied gas) and Tirex Petrol (11.3%, 19.9% and 6.7% of gasoline, diesel fuel and liquefied gas imports).