In the first days of March of this year, the highest prices were reported in the Dominican Republic, while the lowest were registered in the Panamanian capital.
The regional report on average prices to the final consumer of gasoline, diesel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Central America, effective for the week of February 27 to March 7, 2021, was made based on official prices and monitoring or surveys carried out by the different General Directorates of Hydrocarbons or equivalent, in the capital of each Central American country.
Following the increase in fuel prices in Guatemala of more than 20% between January and March, local authorities forecast that this behavior will continue during the following weeks.
Due to the economic crisis generated by the Covid-19 outbreak, fuel consumption plummeted in the Guatemalan market during 2020 and fuel prices fell to historic lows.
The National Energy Secretariat authorized the service stations that sell gasoline in the country to temporarily close their operations in the context of the health and economic crisis.
Resolution N. 4730 of April 23, 2020, allows those service stations that due to low sales volume, and whose location does not affect agricultural, logistical, commercial and strategic activities for Panamanians, may opt for the temporary closure of their services due to the emergency, authorities informed last April 24.
It is estimated that in the municipality of Antiguo Cuscatlán, in El Salvador, about 23% of the commercial establishments correspond to companies in the service sector, which are mostly beauty salons, supermarkets and clothing stores.
An analysis of commercial establishments in El Salvador, prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, gives interesting results on the characteristics of companies operating in Antiguo Cuscatlán, a municipality in the department of La Libertad, according to their location and type of activity.
It is estimated that in San Salvador two out of every ten commercial establishments are service sector companies, which are mostly vehicle maintenance workshops, banks and consulting agencies.
An analysis of commercial establishments in El Salvador, prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, shows interesting results on the characteristics of the companies operating in the country's capital, according to their location and type of activity.
From January to October 2019, 949 million gallons of fuel were sold, and the demand for 91-octane gasoline decreased 5% over the same period in 2018.
The figures of the General Comptroller of the Republic report that during the first ten months of 2019 the consumption of gasoline in the country, which includes the 91 and 95 octane, amounted to 281 million gallons, 3% more than in the same period last year.
According to businessmen of the sector, the constant growth of the vehicle fleet explains the investments that have been made in the opening of new service stations in El Salvador.
At the beginning of 2019, there were 455 service stations in operation in the Salvadoran market, according to data from the Hydrocarbons and Mines Directorate of the Ministry of Economy.
The Superintendence of Competition "authorized the request presented by Uno El Salvador S.A. de C.V. for the acquisition of two gas stations in Santa Ana and La Libertad."
From the Superintendence of Competition statement:
March 5, 2019.The Board of Directors of the Superintendence of Competition (CDSC) authorized the application filed by Uno El Salvador S.A. de C.V. for the acquisition of two gas stations in Santa Ana and La Libertad, owned by Alimentos Móviles, S.A. de C.V., and the lease for 20 years of the buildings containing these gas stations and their respective convenience stores.
Price of a gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $4.33, Nicaragua $3.98, Honduras $3.83, El Salvador $3.56, Guatemala $3.47 and Panama $3.28.
From a report by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has reported new increases in reserves of gasoline, diesel and distillates in recent weeks, which has led to declines in the price of international oil derivatives.
Price of a gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $4.22, Nicaragua $3.99, Honduras $3.83, El Salvador $3.62, Guatemala $3.60 and Panama $3.33.
From a report by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
-Geopolitical events that took place in the month of May between the United States and Iran, led to an increase in the prices of petroleum products, which has been felt in the global market, due to the economic sanctions that focus on reducing the supply of exports to the international hydrocarbons market.
A decrease has been reported in the number of gas stations owned by the state company, which in 2011 began an aggressive expansion plan in the country.
The perception that gasoline is of poor quality and that management of the business has not been the best, are two of the reasons to which, in part, the reduction in the number of gas stations owned by Alba Petróleos has been attributed.
Puma Energy has announced the purchase of 100% of the capital stock of the Panamanian company Tropifuels, which operates Tropigas fuel service stations throughout the country.
In a statement the company dedicated to the distribution of oil and gas explained that with the acquisition of Tropifuels S.A.
Service stations are opting to incorporate pharmacies, small supermarkets and fast food services in order to diversify their income and provide greater added value.
Service stations in Panama are increasingly moving away from the old concept of gas stations, consisting of one or more gas dispensers and, in some cases, toilets.Now they are backing the idea of strengthening the supply of services at the point of sale, so that customers have an improved shopping experience.
Delta Petroleum has announced the purchase of 19 service stations that the French company Total operates in Costa Rica.
The transaction is still subject to approval by the authorities, according to the companies.
The company Total said in a statement that"....'After several years in Costa Rica, we concluded that it would be difficult to achieve a significant market share in fuel distribution.However, we will maintain our presence in the distribution of special fluids and lubricants through a distributor and in Delta service stations', said Isabelle Gaildraud, Senior Vice President of the Americas at Total."
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