FUEL PRICE MOVEMENT NEXT WEEK: Gasoline to go up; rollback for diesel

National

IT’S a tale of two fuels next week: gasoline is set for another increase while diesel and kerosene are poised for a steep slide.

Based on preliminary monitoring by the Department of Energy (DOE) after four trading days in the international oil market, gasoline prices may increase by about P1.60 to P1.70 per liter. Diesel could go down by around P9 per liter, while kerosene may decline by as much as P12 per liter.

DOE director Rino Abad said in a radio interview that gasoline is seeing upward pressure due to stronger demand, explaining that increased buying activity is helping push prices higher.

For diesel, Abad noted that prices are easing as market conditions stabilize and speculative factors fade amid improving geopolitical sentiment, adding that pricing is moving back toward market-based levels as optimism grows over possible progress in peace talks.

Global oil markets have remained reactive to geopolitical developments, with traders watching ongoing tensions alongside cautious optimism over a potential peace deal between the United States and Iran.

The DOE emphasized that the figures remain provisional, as one trading day is still left before final computation. The estimates are based on the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS), a key benchmark used in pricing refined petroleum products across the Asia-Pacific region.

Final adjustments will be announced on Monday and will take effect the following day.

According to a Philstar article, an industry source attributed the expected diesel decline to softer regional pricing pressures, saying, “The lower diesel MOPS price this week is further weighed down by the continued easing of the cargo premium,” while also pointing to tighter supply expectations as a factor supporting higher gasoline prices.

If the projections are realized, gasoline would again become more expensive than diesel, reversing the pattern seen before the Middle East conflict disrupted fuel dynamics.

At present, DOE data shows gasoline in Metro Manila selling for as low as P73.21 per liter, while diesel ranges from P79.62 to P102.16 per liter.(MyTVCebu)