ANP reinforces monitoring of diesel stock in the country

This Monday (15th), measures by the ANP (National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels) will take effect to expand the monitoring of diesel stock in the country, given the risk of shortages in the second half of the year.

From now on, producers and distributors in the sector must notify the agency whenever they make new cargo contracts, in addition to informing data on inventories and imports that are already regularly forwarded to the ANP. The communication will be made via a form sent by email to the regulatory agency.

Companies must also report any restrictions on product purchases, increased risk of imports, setbacks, unplanned stoppages of refineries, change of destination or any other relevant fact that may impact the arrival of S-10 diesel in the country.

Brazil does not face an indication of shortages in the sector, according to the president of the Brazilian Association of Fuel Importers (Abicom), Sérgio Araujo, but, according to him, the risk exists and justifies the expansion of monitoring.

“The ANP is doing the right thing by monitoring inventories on a daily basis, considering an increase in diesel consumption in the second semester in Brazil, linked to the need for this fuel to move the crop”, he says.

The latest report by the Brazilian Oil and Gas Institute (IBP) on the country’s diesel stock, released this August, shows that the country should register an oil deficit in the months of September (-126 million liters), November ( -57 million litres) and December (-75 million litres). In August and October, supply should be greater than demand, with a surplus of 106 million liters and 88 million liters, respectively.

“There is an expectation of a small deficit that can be supplied with the country’s current stocks”, evaluates the IBP.

Abicom points out that, given the expectation of greater demand than supply in the second half, the price of diesel may rise again. In Brazil, Petrobras made two reductions in the value of the liter this August. However, Sergio Araujo points out that the expectation is pressure on the price due to the world market.

“Especially in diesel oil, the expectation is for a rise in price, which is far removed from brent (oil). It would not be time to make a new adjustment. As there is a possibility of an increase in demand at the end of the year, when the winter is in the Northern Hemisphere, with the use of fuel for heating and the scarcity of natural gas in the European Union, diesel is the substitute, this is increasing the price of diesel more than oil”, he added.