The retail sales of gasoline in the first quarter of this year declined by 14.4% compared with the corresponding period last year, to 38,300 tonnes. The sales of liquified petroleum gas fell by 17.8% to 9,300 tonnes, while of diesel oil rose by 1.9% to 39,200 tonnes, shows a report by the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE), quoted by Info-Prim Neo. In the period, the sales of gasoline wholesale decreased by 39.1%, of diesel fuel – by 15.8%, while of liquified petroleum gas – by 8.1%. Imports of gasoline fell by 34% compared with the first quarter of 2009 to 30,500 tonnes, while of diesel oil – by 27.7% to 44,5000 tonnes. Imports of liquified petroleum gas increased by 15.3% to about 12,400 tonnes. Specialists of the Agency explain that the demand for gasoline and diesel fuel decreased, especially in the transportation sector. As a result of the constant rise in oil prices on the world markets, the average import prices of gasoline and diesel fuel in the first quarter increased by 64,4% and 44% respectively, to US$743,100 and US$678,400 per tonne. The average import price of liquified petroleum gas grew by 69.2% to US$631.3 per tonne. These rises led to significant increases in the selling prices of the oil products. The average selling price of gasoline (VAT included) over January-March rose by 45.6% to 12.48 lei a liter, while of diesel fuel – by 16.4% to 11.14 lei a liter. The selling price of liquified petroleum gas increased by 39.5% to 6.46 lei a liter. The 50% rise in excise duties and the devaluation of the national currency by 18.4% also influenced the prices on the home market. The largest importers of gasoline and diesel fuel remain LUKoil Moldova, Petrom Moldova, Bemol Trading and Tirex Petrol. These companies accounted for 84.5% of the gasoline imports and 79.6% of the imports of diesel fuel. Dominic, LUKoil Moldova, Tirex Petrol and Printemps imported 76% of the liquified petroleum gas.