The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) has determined the new regulated  prices of Unleaded Petrol, Premix, Kerosene, Diesel and LPG for March 2021.

The new Fuel and LPG prices come into effect from Monday, 1 March 2021 and are as  follows:

Retail Fuel Prices

• Motor Spirit from $1.99 to $2.13 per litre, an increase of 14 cents per litre; ● Premix from $1.61 to $1.75 per litre, an increase of 14 cents per litre; ● Kerosene from $1.08 to $1.28 per litre, an increase of 20 cents per litre; and ● Diesel from $1.68 to $1.75 per litre, an increase of 7 cents per litre.

Retail LPG Prices

• 4.5kg Cylinder from $12.52 to $13.53, an increase of $1.01 per 4.5kg Cylinder; ● 12kg Cylinder from $33.39 to $36.07, an increase of $2.68 per 12kg Cylinder; ● 13kg Cylinder from $36.17 to $39.08, an increase of $2.91 per 13kg Cylinder; ● Bulk Gas from $2.33 to $2.51, an increase of 18 cents per kg; and
• Autogas from $1.56 to $1.68, an increase of 12 cents per litre.

The Fuel and LPG price review implemented by FCCC follows a one-month lag period, as  such the March 2021 Fuel and LPG regulated prices are based on the importations made in  January 2021 by the Fuel Companies and LPG Companies in Fiji.

Fuel Price Change Reasons

The Fuel price in Fiji is impacted by the movement in Means of Platts Singapore (MOPS), the  international freight rate and the exchange rate. The fluctuations noted in Local Fuel prices for  March 2021 are due to unfavorable movements noted in the international prices for Motor Spirit, Premix, Kerosene and Diesel and unfavorable movement in the international freight  rates which were greater than the gains from the slight weakening of the USD dollar against  the Fijian dollar based on January 2021 imports.

Crude Oil Market

The major physical crude benchmarks rose firmly in January 2021 due to following reasons:

1. Declining global oil stocks as a result of increased heating oil demand following cold waves  in North America, Europe and Asia.
2. Rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and increasing confidence in the markets and overall increase in industrial activities sustained efforts by OPEC and non-OPEC participating countries in the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) to voluntarily adjust their production.
3. Continuing improvements noted in prospects for tighter crude supply.

LPG Price Change Reasons

The LPG price in Fiji is impacted by the movement in Saudi Aramco Butane Contract Price  (CP), the international freight rate and the exchange rate.  The major reasons for the movement in prices for all LPG products in March 2021 in Fiji are  due to increase in butane price and strengthening of the US dollar against the FJ dollar. This  is the seventh consecutive monthly increase in the butane contract price (CP), which was slightly above trader’s expectations.

These international market forces impacted the price of LPG products in the Fijian market.

Fiji is directly impacted by the world market prices for both refined oils and LPG. As such, any  changes to the world market prices will be reflected in Fuel and LPG prices in Fiji.

FCCC will conduct the next Fuel and LPG price review in March 1 2021 to determine regulated  prices for the month of April 2021.

As per the requirements, licensed broker representatives will not be able to execute FHL orders until further notice.

Feedback:  maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj