SINGAPORE, June 4 (The Straits Times/ANN): Fuel pump prices have climbed to new highs again to breach $4 (RM12.78) for the first time on the back of an imminent ban on Russian oil and increased demand as world economies return to full swing.
According to Fuel Kaki, a pump price tracker set up by the Consumers Association of Singapore, a litre of diesel is now between S$3 (Sinopec) and S$3.08 (Shell, Caltex) - up from S$3-S$3.05 two weeks ago.
A litre of 92-octane petrol is now between S$3.26 (Esso, SPC) and S$3.28 (Caltex) - up from S$3.13-S$3.20.
A litre of the popular 95-octane fuel ranges between S$3.26 (Sinopec) and S$3.33 (Shell, Caltex) - up from S$3.16-S$3.25.
Posted prices of 98-octane petrols are between S$3.73 (Sinopec) and S$3.82 (Shell) - up from S$3.64-S$3.74 - while the so-called premium grade of 98-octane fuels is going for between S$3.86 (Sinopec) and S$4.04 (Shell).
This is the first time petrol has breached the S$4 mark here.
The relentless surge in pump prices started well before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, which sparked wide-ranging sanctions against Moscow that have deepened the global supply chain crisis.
The gradual - and then sudden - reopening of economies as the world emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic has also fuelled demand for fuels.
At the same time, producers are struggling to increase production - for instance, restarting refineries which had closed during the pandemic.
RBOB Gasoline, a proxy for refined petroleum products, is now around US$4.20 a gallon, its highest in more than two decades.
The benchmark Brent crude is now above US$117 a barrel, and heading towards its March high of almost US$130 a barrel.
After discounts, Esso has both the cheapest and costliest 92-octane fuel, at S$2.67 with DBS Esso card and S$2.80 with Citibank Cash Back and OCBC cards.
The cheapest 95-octane is at Sinopec (S$2.55 with OCBC cards), which has only three stations. Among operators with sizeable networks, Esso has the lowest price of S$2.71 (DBS Esso card), while Shell has the highest price of S$2.86 (various HSBC and Citibank cards).
For 98-octane petrol, which is necessary for only a minority of cars here, Sinopec again has the lowest rate of S$2.93 (OCBC cards).
Among brands with sizeable networks, Esso has the lowest rate of S$3.10 (DBS Esso card), while Shell has the highest price of S$3.29 (various HSBC and Citibank cards). - The Straits Times/ANN
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