Shell Reduces Petrol Prices By Three Cents
Shell New Zealand is reducing petrol prices by three cents as the three key petrol pricing indicators – crude oil costs, finished product costs, and the New Zealand exchange rate - improve.
Shell says the US decision to release 30 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserve, coupled with slightly improved finished product costs and a firming dollar, has prompted the move.
“Shell has been containing prices for petrol over recent weeks, and believes it is now in a position to pass on some early benefits to motorists.”
However, the company says diesel prices remain under pressure as the Northern hemisphere enters its winter season and the demand for diesel based heating oils increase dramatically.
Shell says the traditional cycle of diesel prices rising as the Northern hemisphere heads into winter is exacerbated this year by very low diesel stocks in the United States. This is leading to the unusual situation where diesel is costing more to purchase than petrol.
“Unfortunately, diesel and petrol have been out of kilter
for some time. Diesel market price increases of only 23
cents over the past year have not kept pace with actual
product cost increases of 31 cents. For New Zealand, this
justifies a diesel increase if the situation does not
improve.”
Ends
For more information
contact:
Antonius Papaspiropoulos
Corporate
Communications Manager –
Oceania
021-459-868
04-498-0380
antonius@shell.co.nz