According to monthly data from the Entidade Reguladora dos Serviços Energéticos (ERSE) on the fuel and LPG market in February this year, the average prices of gasoline and diesel in the national market “followed the behaviour of the international markets and registered an increase of 0.6% and a decrease of 0.1%, respectively, compared to the previous month”.

ERSE explains that, in gasoline, the largest share of the price paid by the consumer corresponded to the tax component, representing in February 48.1% of the total invoice, followed by quotation and freight (34.9%).

In the case of diesel, the price was mainly due to the quotation and freight component (40.7%), followed by the tax value (40.3%), with the inversion of the components resulting from the application of the periodic review of the Tax on Petroleum and Energy Products (ISP).

In order to deal with the rise in fuel prices, the Government implemented a periodic review mechanism of the ISP and, in February, this tax applied to diesel remained unchanged compared to January, while that applied to gasoline was reduced by 1.9 cents.

Pricey petrol

By location, Beja, Bragança and Faro had the highest prices in mainland Portugal in February, while the districts of Braga, Santarém and Castelo Branco had the lowest diesel and gasoline prices.

With regard to the LPG bottle (butane and propane), Leiria, Beja and Évora, presented the highest prices, while Braga, Viseu and Castelo Branco recorded, in mainland Portugal, the lowest cost.

In terms of establishments, supermarkets “maintain the most competitive offers in fuel for road use, followed by operators in the low-cost segment”, adds the regulator.