Fuel Prices in Ukraine Rise: Experts Predict an Increase of 2 Hryvnias
Ukrainian drivers are warned about a potential rise in fuel prices — new reports from experts indicate that soon the price per liter at gas stations across the country may increase by 2 hryvnias. This forecast becomes relevant after a long period of price stability that lasted since the end of last year.
This is reported by AgroReview
Increase in Demand and Record Fuel Reserves
According to the director of the consulting group “A-95”, Serhiy Kuyun, the demand for fuel in Ukraine is showing significant growth. The most active dynamics are noticeable in Kyiv and its surroundings: in some networks, fuel sales volumes have increased by 30% or more. At the same time, the expert emphasizes that there is no reason to panic over a possible shortage — fuel reserves are currently sufficient, and the country is fully supplied with resources.
December of last year marked record volumes of diesel fuel imports: over 800 thousand tons were brought into Ukraine, which is the highest figure in the last ten years. This significantly exceeds the average consumption for this period, which usually does not exceed 600 thousand tons. However, despite the significant reserves, the issue of the frost resistance of diesel fuel remains, which is particularly important for motorists during the winter period.
“The director of the consulting group ‘A-95’, Serhiy Kuyun, notes that there is currently active growth in demand in the country. This is especially noticeable in the capital region, where fuel sales volumes in some networks have jumped by a third or even more. However, there is no need to panic over a possible shortage, as there is currently plenty of fuel in the country.”
Impact of Global Markets and Currency Exchange Rates
The main reason for the expected price increase, experts say, is not an internal shortage but the situation in external markets. In the first two weeks of January, the price of oil on international exchanges rose by approximately 10% — from $60 to $66 per barrel. Since Ukraine is almost entirely dependent on imported fuel, such changes immediately affect prices within the country.
The increase in oil prices has already led to a rise in the price of diesel fuel by $60 per ton, which correspondingly increases the cost of each liter by 2.5 hryvnias. An additional factor remains the fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate — each hryvnia change in the exchange rate adds about 80 kopecks to the price of fuel at gas stations. In the absence of stabilization in the currency market and oil prices, an increase in retail prices by 2 hryvnias seems quite probable.
Regional Features and Price Dynamics
Currently, the average price of diesel fuel in Ukraine has reached 58.87 hryvnias per liter — it has increased by 50 kopecks in just the last few days. The most expensive fuel is currently sold in frontline and certain central regions. In particular, in the Kherson and Kirovohrad regions, prices have already exceeded the 60 hryvnias per liter mark. At the same time, in the Zhytomyr region and in Prykarpattia, prices remain slightly below the average level, but the trend towards growth is observed in all regions of the country.