Data from the Portuguese Association of Oil Companies (APETRO) is clear: in the first three months of this year, the consumption of liquid road fuels increased by 9.1% compared to the same period in 2022. In total, between gasoline and diesel, compared with the period between January and March last year, and another 34.5 thousand tons, compared to the last three months of 2022. The trend is accompanied by the results of the country’s economic dynamism since the beginning of 2023, as well as the reduction of the cost per liter of diesel.
The recovery in freight activity is one of the factors behind the increase in fuel sales, says André Matias de Almeida. The spokesman for the National Association of Public Goods Road Transport (ANTRAM) says there is “10% more fuel consumed by heavy duty vehicles alone, because there is actually an increase in activity”. If we take APETRO figures into account, diesel sales increased by 8.1% between January and March compared to the same period in 2022 and by 3.6% compared to the last quarter of last year. But if André Matias de Almeida has no doubts about this growth in fuel consumption, the official also believes that the trend will be reversed in the coming months. The reason, he explains, is the prices charged in Spain.
“Transport companies with vehicles registered in Portugal and registered in Spain are entitled to exceptional and temporary support [em Espanha]. We are talking about 20 cents per liter in the first quarter and 10 cents in the second quarter,” he adds. André Matias de Almeida gives the example of an employee, “one of the largest companies in the sector in Portugal”, which supplied “about 100,000 liters per month” in the country, a value that increased 15 times in the first quarter and which now, with the new discount in Spain, will again reduce national consumption to 100,000 liters per month. There has been great sensitivity from the Portuguese and Spanish governments to this subject, which makes supplying Spain for transport much more attractive,” the spokesperson summarizes.
It is worth remembering that already in May, the Portuguese government extended the extraordinary support for professional diesel, with retroactive effect from 1 January, which provides for a refund of 17 cents per liter delivered between January and 30 June. However, there is a limit of 50,000 liters per year per vehicle.
Portuguese economy on the rise
Portugal was the second country in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) whose GDP grew the most in the first three months of the year (1.6% compared to the previous quarter), a result that surprised the government and that helps explain the increase in fuel sales. On the other hand, it was also in the first quarter that the average price per liter of diesel fell sharply. According to the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG), ordinary diesel fell from 1,621 euros per liter in January to 1,532 euros in March. For gasoline, the drop was less than 2 cents per liter over the same period.
On the side of freight transport professionals, ANTRAM is cautious about the evolution of the sector until the end of this year. “Most carriers were not able to increase their customers’ costs, which was essential given the period of high inflation we are going through,” regrets André Matias de Almeida.
Electric charges break record
When carbon neutrality is a national target, reinforced after the government brought the target forward to 2045, electric charging on the public grid has also increased significantly. Between January and March alone, the increase in use at Mobi.E was more than 76%, compared to the same period of 2022. “It is the energy transition in the automotive sector that is going to happen,” said Luís Barroso, President of the Public company.
According to figures from the Electric Vehicle Users Association (UVE), sales of 100% electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids grew 78.2% in the first quarter compared to the same period last year. The penetration of electrified vehicles has increased in recent years, as has the capillarity of the public supply network operated by Mobi.E, which has installed 157 new charging stations this year alone. “This gives an average rhythm of 28 posts per week,” explains Luís Barroso. The national goal, set out in the Recovery and Resilience Plan, is to reach the milestone of 15,000 charging points in the country by 2025. At the moment there are 6,145 spread from north to south. “We are achieving the objectives”, assures the person in charge.
DN/Dinheiro Vivo News
Source: DN
