After a series of pump price hikes, motorists are finally set to experience the first rollbacks of the year, potentially putting an end to recent big-time increases caused by global oil shocks amid the war in the Middle East.
Effective Tuesday, April 13, Shell Pilipinas will cut its diesel prices by ₱23 per liter, gasoline by ₱6.50 per liter, and kerosene by ₱11.50 per liter.
Other oil companies have yet to announce their price adjustments, even as they are expected to be in accordance with the prescribed minimum rollback levels set by the Department of Energy (DOE).
Last Sunday, April 12, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin announced estimated pump price reductions, stating that oil companies should implement minimum rollbacks of ₱20.89 per liter for diesel, ₱4.43 per liter for gasoline, and ₱8.50 per liter for kerosene.
The price cuts were driven by easing market concerns over geopolitical tensions following a two-week ceasefire initiated by the United States (US).
However, the two-week halt in the conflict appears shaky, as the US has deployed its Navy to block ships entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
The recent blockade has once again unsettled the market, with Brent crude earlier spiking by eight percent to about $102 per barrel. It remains unclear how the global oil market will price fuel next week.
Despite these concerns, the DOE, through state-run Philippine National Oil Co.-Exploration Corp. (PNOC-EC), secured an additional 329,000 barrels of diesel from Malaysia over the weekend. This is part of the government’s plan to bring in 900,000 barrels this month, with the next shipments expected to arrive in mid- to late April.