Petrobras announced this Friday (17) readjustments of 5.2% in the price of gasoline and 14.2% in the price of diesel. The new values will come into effect from this Saturday (18). 
The company informed that the average sale price of gasoline to distributors will increase from R$ 3.86 to R$ 4.06 per liter. The last adjustment was on March 11, 99 days ago.
For diesel, the adjustment takes place 39 days after the previous increase. Petrobras’ average sales price to distributors will rise from R$4.91 to R$5.61 per liter. The last adjustment took place on May 10th.
The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), cooking gas, has not been readjusted. In a note to publicize the increases, Petrobras stated that it has sought to balance its prices with the global market, but without immediately passing on to domestic prices the volatility of international quotations and the exchange rate.
“This positioning allowed Petrobras to maintain stable LPG prices for up to 152 days; for diesel for up to 84 days; and for gasoline for up to 99 days. This practice is not common to other suppliers operating in the Brazilian market that adjust their prices more frequently, nor do the biggest international companies that adjust their prices even daily”.
Já pelo Twitter, o presidente Jair Bolsonaro fez duras críticas à Petrobras pelo novo reajuste.
“The Federal Government as a shareholder is against any readjustment in fuels, not only for the exaggerated profit of Petrobras in the midst of the world crisis, as well as for the public interest foreseen in the Law of State-owned Companies”, posted the president.
He then mentioned the possibility of a truck drivers strike, due to the price of fuel.
“Petrobras can plunge Brazil into chaos. Its president, directors and advisers are well aware of what happened with the truckers’ strike in 2018, and the disastrous consequences for Brazil’s economy and the lives of our people.”
Last Wednesday (15), the Chamber of Deputies concluded the vote on the Complementary Law Project (PLP) 18/2022, which limits the application of the Tax on the Circulation of Goods and Services (ICMS) on fuels, setting it a at the maximum level of 17% to 18%, below the current values applied by the states. The measure aims to reduce the price of fuel for consumers, but the increases by Petrobras may nullify the effects of this exemption. The text awaits presidential sanction to enter into force.
