An analysis of fuel supply to the Ukrainian market in May-June 2011 conducted by the Kyiv-based A-95 consulting group showed that there is a lack of A-92 petrol on the market, as some filling station chains were forced to reduce A-92 petrol sales, the company's press service has reported.
"It was revealed that there were cases of the sale of imported A-95 petrol under the guise of A-92 petrol. This is a paradox, but the imported fuel of European quality is cheaper today than Ukrainian A-92 petrol, and Ukrainian oil refineries do not sell A-92 petrol," A-95 consulting group’s director, Serhiy Kuyun, said.
The expert said that there is no shortage of A-95 petrol and diesel fuel on the market, as a lack of these types of fuel could be compensated by imported fuel.
"The key source of supplies of A-92 petrol to the market was Ukrainian oil refineries, which market share is 70-80%. It is a problem to increase imports, as most of European oil refineries stopped producing A-92 petrol or minimized its production," Kuyun said.
The group said that a fall in supplies from Belarus due to the scheduled repair of Mozyr oil refinery and a force majeure increase in domestic demand on fuel in Belarus affected the Ukrainian market.
"Ukrainian oil refineries had a good chance in fact rather than in word to prove to the government and consumers that they are able to satisfy demand on the fuel market, especially in the period of seasonal growth in consumption. However, we see a lack of some types of Ukrainian petrol," he said.
The company’s experts said that the situation with supplies of A-92 petrol in southern regions could be partially stabilized after an arrival of the Rompetrol-Ukraine tanker with A-92 petrol on board in the second half of June. The market would stabilize with resumption of supplies from Belarus in the second half of June.
Despite problems with supply of some types of fuel, the experts do not predict a rise in the prices of fuel in the near future. They said that the price situation in July could change due to the resumed growth in prices of oil and the expected increase in the excise duties on petrol and diesel fuel.
