Fuel: why are gasoline prices falling and diesel prices rising?

In its weekly report, the Ministry of Energy Transition published on Tuesday pump prices seen last week. As a result, those who drive the SP 95-E10 now have to pay an average of 1.9246 euros per litre, up 1.4 cents from the previous week. For diesel fuel, the opposite trend is observed: a significant drop of 0.8 cents, resulting in a price per liter of 1.8014 euros. This is called the “scissor effect”.

Why these opposite evolutions, while two fuels are processed from the same source product, crude oil, a barrel of Brent oil has risen in price again, $7.70 a week, to settle at $84.60? “Thanks for the strike!” says Francis Pouss, president of the Mobilians Service Stations department, somewhat provocatively. Traditionally, we are self-sufficient in gasoline, meaning our refineries produce enough for our national consumption, knowing that this is 30% of our total fuel consumption, with the remaining 70% coming from diesel. »

But a strike at parts of seven refineries in mainland France (the eighth is in Martinique) temporarily disrupted the situation. And I had to compensate by buying gasoline in the markets. “The salespeople saw us approach and probably took advantage of that to make a little extra profit. We find the difference currently in the prices of the pump. »

“The calm may not last long”

How long ? A strike at the TotalEnergies refinery in Gonfreville-l’Orche (Seine-Maritime) against pension reform was suspended on Tuesday. And even if the return to normal is likely to take several weeks, after the gradual “cooling down” of the installation from March 18, one can hope for a return to calmness in gasoline prices during May.

Especially since this traffic suspension in Normandy follows a vote at the TotalEnergies refinery in Donge (Loire-Atlantique) last Friday, as well as the end of the lockdowns at the La Mede biorefinery, near Marseille, and the oil terminals in Grande. Sea port of Marseille-Foz.

“Be careful, however,” the oil and fuels analyst warns, the lull may not last long. With the coming of summer and driving season for Americans, very large consumers of unleaded gasoline, we could quickly spot market tensions and therefore see gasoline prices start to rise again. »