Gasoline, ethanol, and S-10 diesel registered price reductions in August, marking the third consecutive month of decline. According to a survey conducted by ValeCard, ethanol led this downward trend, showing a 2.06% drop in the national average, surpassing gasoline (-0.68%) and S-10 diesel (-0.51%).
Nationally, gasoline prices decreased from R$ 6.821 to R$ 6.774 per liter. Ethanol fell from R$ 4.365 to R$ 4.275, while S-10 diesel went from R$ 7.196 to R$ 7.159. Since May, ethanol has accumulated a drop of 7.45%, a percentage significantly higher than the 1.97% for diesel and 1.21% for gasoline.
There is a limited timeframe for this relief, as the government extended the subsidy for gasoline only until September 9th, following an extension on August 26th. Without this renewal, some of the currently contained pressure may be felt by consumers at the gas station.
The reduction in biofuel cost enhanced its competitiveness. In August, ethanol represented, on average, 63% of the gasoline price, compared to about 64% in July. Using the initial criterion of up to 70% established for flex vehicles, ethanol became advantageous in 17 states, an increase from 13 states in July and 10 in June.
The best ratio indices were observed in Roraima (54%), Mato Grosso (56%), Amapá, and São Paulo (59% each). The lowest average price for ethanol was recorded in São Paulo, reaching R$ 3.865 per liter, while the highest was in Sergipe, at R$ 5.537. The biofuel dropped in 25 states, with the exception of the Federal District (a 4.70% increase) and Sergipe (a 0.13% increase).
Gasoline saw drops in 19 states, notably Bahia, where there was an average reduction of 1.83%. The Federal District registered the largest increase, at 4.04%. In Rio Grande do Sul, the cheapest liter in the country was found at R$ 6.337, while Roraima had the most expensive at R$ 8.168, highlighting the influence of regional logistics, with a difference of R$ 1.831.
For S-10 diesel, the drop occurred in 19 states, driven by Pernambuco, Paraíba, Tocantins, Minas Gerais, and Santa Catarina. However, the North region followed the opposite trajectory: Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, and Roraima experienced continuous increases in June, July, and August. Acre accumulated a growth of 11.59% since May and currently holds the most expensive diesel in the country, at R$ 8.233 per liter, while Rio Grande do Sul maintains the lowest price at R$ 6.368.
Marcelo Braga, Director of Mobility and Operations at ValeCard, commented that the market entered 'a period of greater accommodation, but this does not mean the absence of risks.' He identified oil, exchange rates, and logistical costs as the most sensitive variables, especially for diesel, attributing part of the drop to the subsidy granted to the fuel.
This scenario is set against a backdrop of more moderate inflation: the August IPCA-15 showed a deflation of 0.40%, totaling 4.24% accumulated over 12 months, according to IBGE data. It is important to note that the ValeCard survey does not use official price data, basing itself on transactions made with the company's cards between August 1st and 26th, covering over 25 thousand accredited stations nationwide.