Pump prices fall below $2 a litre, diesel remains unchanged
Pump prices have tumbled for the second time in two weeks, taking a litre of petrol to below $2 for the first time in several years.
Latest updates by fuel price tracker Fuel Kaki - managed by the Consumers Association of Singapore - showed the price of 95-octane petrol, the most popular grade here, had slipped five cents lower to $1.99 a litre across all brands.
This was down from $2.04 last week, when fuel retailers lowered prices by five to six cents a litre following the crash in oil prices.
The cheapest 92-octane grade is now $1.95 a litre across the board, except for Shell and Sinopec, which do not offer it.
The 98-octane grade varies from $2.33 at SPC to $2.47 at Caltex. So-called special grades by Shell and Sinopec are retailing at $2.60 and $2.50 respectively. All prices are before discounts.
Observers reckon the latest five-cent cuts translate to a 20 to 25 per cent reduction in wholesale fuel prices, which in turn follow the recent drop in crude oil rates. Wholesale fuel is estimated to account for only 15 per cent of the cost of a litre of petrol here.
Meanwhile, diesel remains unchanged at $1.64 at SPC, and $1.67 elsewhere.
Oil consultant Ong Eng Tong said this may be because diesel demand has been relatively buoyant given that buses and goods vehicles are still running, while cars are being used less now during the circuit breaker.
Mr Ong said West Texas Intermediate (a benchmark crude) "has risen due to paper trade".
"We have to watch May 21, when the June contract expires," he said.
"Like April 21, when the May contract expired and buyers cannot take delivery because of full inventory, we may see another dive - but maybe not below zero again."
Mr Ong pointed out that most countries around the world are still in lockdown and that demand for jet fuel is "still at a standstill". - THE STRAITS TIMES
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