Most consumers are not filling up their cars, Christodoulos Christodoulou, Vice President and Press Spokesperson for the Association of Gas Station Owners, told CNA, expressing his view that fuel prices are expected to drop by the end of August at the latest, provided that international oil prices stabilize at a lower level.
When asked by CNA whether the current upward trend in fuel prices is expected to continue, Mr. Christodoulou noted that from July 17 to the present, gasoline has risen by 12 cents per liter, diesel by 19 cents per liter, and heating oil by 10 cents, noting that these “are very steep increases.”
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According to Mr. Christodoulou, at this time, the price of unleaded 95 averages around €1.60 per liter, diesel around €1.79, and heating oil around €1.49 per liter.
He noted that the price of oil is falling but that there have been increases in fuel prices, adding that new shipments must arrive before price reductions can take effect.
When asked, he said that current prices likely reflect shipments from when oil was at $95–97 per barrel.
“We expect price reductions provided that the price stabilizes at a lower level,” he said, noting that the price has now reached $84 per barrel, whereas it was $79 two or three days ago.
“We hope the upward trend does not continue,” he added.
Responding to a question about when new shipments are expected, Mr. Christodoulou noted that this is a matter for the companies, but that they bring in new shipments roughly every 15 days, and that “logically, by the end of the month at the latest, we’ll see price reductions.”
When asked if they are receiving complaints from consumers, Mr. Christodoulou stated that, because consumers see that international oil prices have been falling recently and observe the price increases at gas stations, they are asking questions and complaining, and that gas station owners are explaining the reason.
When asked, he also said that most consumers are not filling up their cars completely. “They might put in 20, 30, or 40 euros again. Very few fill them up completely,” he added.
When asked if there is increased consumption due to summer trips to beaches and mountainous areas, Mr. Christodoulou said there is “a slight increase” in traffic but that people are being cautious. “They’re not moving around as freely as before. There are also the occupied territories,” he said. As prices rise, he added, more people are going to the occupied territories to fill up their cars, because fuel is cheaper there.
He noted that this is a “very serious issue.”
