Today, by means of Emergency Decree No. 601/2019 (the "New Decree"), the National Executive Branch improved in AR$ 1.50 the reference exchange rate for crude oil and fuel commercialization, and reduced the original scope of the price freeze set by Urgency Decree No. 566/2019 (the "Original Decree"). Likewise, by means of Decree No. 607/2019 the increase of the fuel tax scheduled for September 1, 2019, was postponed and will remain unchanged at least until November 30, 2019.
Hereunder, the outline of the Original Decree compared to the New Decree:
Topic | Original Decree | New Decree 601/19 |
Scope | Wholesale and retail fuel market | Retail fuel market |
Price freeze term | Until November 13, 2019 | No changes |
Reference exchange rate for the sale of gasoline and diesel fuel for gas stations |
AR$ 45,19 = USD 1 | AR$ 46,69 = USD 1 |
Reference exchange rate for the sale of crude oil between producers and refiners |
AR$ 45,19 = USD 1 | AR$ 46,69 = USD 1 |
Reference crude oil | 59 USD/bbl | No changes |
These changes aim to (i) avoid affecting the wholesale fuel market with the price freeze; (ii) partially compensate the different industry players by improving their products commercialization prices with regards to the Original Decree; and (iii) keep unaltered - at least until November 13, 2019 - the fuel prices at gas stations.
Finally, the New Decree indicated that the reference values and the established caps may be modified by the Energy Secretariat.