During the first half of September, prices for ethanol and S-10 diesel rose at Brazilian gas stations, reversing the downward trend observed in August. The data was compiled by the Edenred Ticket Log Price Index (IPTL), which covers information from 21 thousand stations.
According to the IPTL, the cost per liter of ethanol increased from R$ 4.14 to R$ 4.21, representing an increase of 1.69%. S-10 diesel showed a rise of 0.42%, moving from R$ 7.08 to R$ 7.11. In contrast, gasoline experienced a slight devaluation of 0.30%, reaching R$ 6.72, while regular diesel fell by 0.29%, settling at R$ 6.76.
This price increase is linked to instability in the global energy market. In the analyzed period, Brent crude surpassed the $105 per barrel mark, and WTI exceeded $101. Edenred pointed out that pressure factors include recent attacks on Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure, which resulted in the temporary closure of the East-West pipeline, an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz.
Additionally, reduced flow in the Strait of Hormuz itself and conflicts in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait contributed to increased international transport costs and risk premiums. On Friday (25th), Brent traded at $104.37 amid discussions between the United States and Iran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Vinicios Fernandes, Director of Business Units at Edenred Mobility, commented that a possible maintenance of high oil prices could intensify pressure on the correlation between refinery values and international benchmarks, especially for diesel, which is essential for road transport.
In the ethanol sector, after the drops recorded in the August harvest, there was a resumption of the rise in the Southeast, with a growth of 2.51%, reaching R$ 4.09, although this remains the lowest average value in the country. In the Center-West, the fuel rose by 2.20%, reaching R$ 4.18. Among the states, Amazonas registered the largest increase, of 4.57%, to R$ 5.26, while Pernambuco was the state with the largest reduction, falling 3.26% to R$ 5.05.
Regarding S-10 diesel, the largest regional increases were concentrated in the South region, with a rise of 1.83%, to R$ 6.69, and in the Center-West, with 1.57%, reaching R$ 7.13. Mato Grosso led the state increases with 3.09%, reaching R$ 7.34, followed by Amazonas, with 2.80%, to R$ 7.35. In Rio Grande do Sul, the fuel rose 2.55%, to R$ 6.44, maintaining the lowest national average price. Paraná registered a rise of 2.22%, to R$ 6.90, and Acre was where the most expensive S-10 was found, at R$ 8.15.
Gasoline showed more moderate variations. The Center-West presented the largest regional increase, of 0.15%, and the South, the largest drop, of 0.93%. Among the states, the Federal District had the largest increase, of 2.23%, to R$ 6.89, and Bahia registered the largest decrease, of 3.01%, to R$ 6.77. Rio Grande do Sul maintained the lowest national average, at R$ 6.27, and Roraima, the highest, at R$ 7.70.
As for regular diesel, Alagoas led the state increases with 1.68%, to R$ 7.28. Meanwhile, Paraná achieved the lowest average price in the country, set at R$ 6.14.