Petrol consumption rose 40%, diesel 23.4% in Q1 YoY

  • Lusa
  • 10 May 2022

Consumption of butane in the first quarter of 2022 in relation to the same period in 2021 was higher, reaching a total of 58 thousand tonnes, which translated into an increase of 5.4 thousand tonnes.

Consumption of gasoline, diesel and LPG Auto increased by 40%, 23.4% and 50.0% in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2021, but decreased compared to the previous quarter, the Portuguese Association of Oil Companies (Apetro) reported on Tuesday.

According to a report by Apetro, based on data from the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG), comparing the first three months of this year with the same period of 2021, gasoline sales increased by 66.1 thousand tonnes (+40%), to 232 thousand, diesel consumption rose by 199.4 thousand tonnes (+23.4%) and LPG Auto increased by 2.7 thousand tonnes (+50.0%), to eight thousand.

However, in relation to the previous quarter, there were decreases of 9.6% (-24.5 thousand tonnes) in the consumption of petrol, 5.7% (-63.9 thousand tonnes) in the consumption of diesel and 9.0% (-800 tonnes) in the consumption of LPG Auto.

Consumption of butane in the first quarter of 2022 in relation to the same period in 2021 was higher, reaching a total of 58 thousand tonnes, which translated into an increase of 5.4 thousand tonnes (+10.2%).

The consumption of propane, from January to March was lower compared to the same period, by 2.8 thousand tonnes (-1.6%), reaching a consumption of 172 thousand tonnes. In relation to the previous quarter, there was an increase of 68.0 thousand tons (+65.2%).

Overall, says Apetro, “the total market for liquid road fuels rose 265.5 thousand tonnes (+26.1%) compared to the same quarter, but fell 88.4 thousand tonnes (-6.4%) compared to the previous quarter.

“In consumption of gaseous fuels (Total LPG), there is an increase of 5.3 thousand tonnes (+2.3%) compared to the same quarter and 86.7 thousand tonnes (+57.0%) compared to the previous quarter.”

Comparing the first quarter of 2022 with the same period before the pandemic, that is, the first quarter of 2020, there was an increase in the total market of liquid road fuels of 31 thousand tonnes (+2.5%), and in the consumption of gaseous fuels of 23 thousand tonnes (+10.5%)

Apetro also published today the evolution of the average retail prices (PMVP) of butane in cylinders and propane in bulk during the first three months of this year.

As regards the PMVP of butane cylinders, in the first quarter it rose by 7.1 cent/kg (cents per kilogram, +3.0%) compared with the previous quarter and 49.0 cent/kg (+25.3%) year-on-year.

“The main factor for the rise in the PMVP of bottled butane compared with the previous quarter was the average price (+15.0 cent/kg), which absorbed the decrease in average Warehousing Distribution and Marketing costs (-9.2 cent/kg). VAT rose 1.3 cents/kg, due to the increase in PMVP,”.

As for the bulk propane PMVP, in the first quarter it fell in comparison with the previous quarter by 3.3 cents/kg (-1.6%) and in comparison with the same quarter it rose 38.9 cents/kg, (+23.9%).

Among the “main factors for the rise in the bulk propane PMVP during the first quarter of 2022” is “the rise in the average price (+8.8 cent/kg), which partially absorbed the decrease in average Storage, Distribution and Marketing costs (-11.5 cent/kg).” VAT fell 0.6 cents/kg, as a result of the decrease in PMVP.