Fuel Prices on the Rise Again
Local fuel prices are starting to witness an upward trend. After last week’s increase, the prices of petrol and diesel are set to go up again for the period of 23 May until 29 May.
According to the ministry of finance, the retail prices of RON95 and RON97 petrol will increase by 7 sen each to RM1.38 and RM1.68, respectively. On the other hand, the retail price of diesel sees an increase of 6 sen from RM1.45 to RM1.51 per liter.
The ministry says the increase across the board is due to the increase in refined product prices in line with the rise in global crude oil prices.
The government will continue to monitor the impact of global crude oil price change and take appropriate measures to ensure the welfare and well-being of the people are looked after.
FACT:
Why do petrol prices rise and fall?
Consumers worldwide have watched the cost of petroleum continue to fluctuate throughout the year. In the long term, the greatest single factor influencing petroleum prices is the cost of crude oil. However, market place forces of supply, demand and competition can have a significant effect on the price of petroleum in the short term.
The cost of crude
The cost of crude oil contributes to almost 50 percent of the retail price of petroleum, and has the most significant long-term impact. Crude oil prices have risen dramatically over the last few years, driven by a strong global demand, limited spare oil production capacity, and continuing political instability in certain oil producing regions.
So when the price of crude goes up, average petroleum prices rise significantly too.
Increase in international energy demand.
Surging crude oil demand is driven by strong economic growth, particularly in non-OECD nations. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that total world consumption of marketed energy is expected to increase by 44 percent from 2006 to 2030. Reduced spare oil production capacity leaves very little room to compensate for unanticipated supply disruptions or spikes in demand. The tenuous balance between supply and demand is even more of a concern when you consider that most of the world’s oil is located in some of the more politically unstable parts of the world. As such, supply disruptions, whether real or perceived, can have dramatic effects on the price of crude oil.
Global economic expansion is driving what the U.S. International Energy Agency (IEA) says is the biggest increase in oil demand in 24 years. In particular, energy consumption in the emerging economies of non-OECD countries is expected to increase by 73 percent between 2006 and 2030. The driver behind the fast-paced growth in energy demand in these countries is strong long-term GDP growth.
Oil supply – uncertainty places pressure on price
Crude oil is refined to produce petrol and diesel and the cost of crude oil is traditionally the greatest single factor affecting fuel prices over time. However, with the shortage of refineries to refine the crude, we’re in a unique situation where the price difference between crude oil and refined product can be large.
Supply remains volatile. With rising demand, this places tremendous pressure on pricing. Political volatility in oil producing regions has historically impacted on crude oil prices and the political situation in the Middle East is of global concern.TaxationTax takes up a significant component of the price of every litre of fuel, but it varies from product to product, and country to country. In some countries where Caltex operates, tax rates can be as high as almost half the cost of fuel.
Other factors that influence petroleum price
Although the cost of crude oil has the most impact on average petroleum prices in the long term, local market conditions (including the forces of supply, demand, competition, and government regulation) can also have a significant impact on petroleum prices and explain some of the pricing variations across different markets.
In any market situation, supply and demand imbalances can affect prices in the short term. Supply shortages typically cause upward price pressure and can result from an unplanned refinery outage, pipeline problems, or an unforeseen increase in demand. Conversely, downward price pressure can happen when supply exceeds demand.
Other factors affecting pricing include foreign exchange and geographic location.
Local competition, reflected by the number of choices in the market place, can also affect pricing. Almost everyone has experienced the difference in petroleum prices between a lone station on a lengthy interstate and in town, where many intersections may have two or three service stations to choose from.
Generally, price adjustments in the market affect short-term supply-demand imbalances and bring supply and demand back into balance. Whether in a situation of supply tightness or length, price will eventually bring the supply-demand balance into equilibrium by attracting additional supply or influencing demand.
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