The gap in the diesel price practiced by Petrobras in relation to international quotations reached record levels, which raised the alert signal for the supply of the Brazilian market in October. The situation is especially concerning due to the state-owned company's historical role in the formation of domestic fuel prices.
Data from the Brazilian Association of Fuel Importers (Abicom) reveal that only 150 thousand cubic meters of imported diesel are expected for delivery in October, a volume significantly lower than the approximately 850 thousand cubic meters recorded in September. The decline in imports is directly linked to the loss of competitiveness caused by the price gap.
The month of October usually registers higher diesel demand precisely because of the agricultural harvest, which aggravates the effects of the reduction in imported supply. The drop in imported fuel stocks can compromise supply during a period of peak consumption in the field.
Agribusiness is already feeling the effects of the situation and expressing concern about the impact on profit margins. The outlook is for increased production costs, since diesel is a fundamental input for agricultural operations, especially during the harvest and planting period of the crop.
