ANAREC says the government wants to shift focus from the real cause of high fuel prices – O Journal Economico

In a statement expressing his “surprise and astonishment” at the government’s announcement that it would propose a decree-law allowing action on fuel marketing margins and still awaiting understanding how the promised legislation will affect distributors’ business, Anark sees this intention as a way to focus on commercial margins as a reason for price hikes, “distracting the attention of the consumer for the real reason for the price hike.

ANAREC’s reaction comes after the Minister of Environment and Climate Action, João Pedro Matos Fernandez, announced at a hearing in Parliament that the region it oversees will propose “until today, a decree-law allowing the government to act on fuel marketing margins, so that the fuel market reflects its true costs” .

According to the government official, the goal is that when there is a drop in raw material prices, “consumers feel it and own it rather than being taken over by marketing margins, as well as to avoid sudden, and possibly unexplained, increases.” .

The association confirmed, in a statement, that the price of fuel in Portugal is determined on the basis of factors that “reflect the tax burden within the range of 60%, that is, 0.60 euros for each euro fueled, corresponding to taxes and fees.”

The statement adds in this context: “State coffers have naturally benefited from higher prices because, of necessity, they increase associated taxes, as is the case with the ISP and value added tax.

Anarec also asserts that the fuel price hikes that have occurred in Portugal are “mainly related to the dynamics of international markets which have recently shown a tendency for oil prices to rise,” and thus do not agree with Matos Fernandez’ statements “in the sense of making the increase in trade margins responsible for the price of fuel.” “.

According to the association, most entrepreneurs in this sector are currently facing great difficulties due to low profitability and increased cost structure.

According to a National Energy Sector (ENSE) study released today, the suppliers’ margin, at the end of June, was 36.6% higher in gasoline and 5% higher in diesel than the average margin applied in 2019.

Quoting the study “Analysis of the evolution of fuel prices in Portugal”, the entity overseeing the fuel sector concluded that “during the critical months of the epidemic, average sales prices to the public decreased at a rate significantly lower than the decrease. In prices. reference prices”, which means That “suppliers’ margins have, in 2020, reached their maximum for the period under review.”