By Chen Cheng-hui /
Staff reporter
Gasoline and diesel prices at domestic fuel stations are to rise NT$0.1 and NT$0.2 per liter this week respectively, after international crude oil prices increased for two consecutive weeks, CPC Corp, Taiwan (台灣中油) and Formosa Petrochemical Corp (台塑石化) announced yesterday.
Effective today, gasoline prices at CPC and Formosa stations are to rise to NT$27.4, NT$28.9 and NT$30.9 per liter for 92, 95 and 98-octane unleaded gasoline respectively, the companies said in separate statements.
The price of premium diesel is to rise to NT$26.4 per liter at CPC stations and NT$26.2 at Formosa pumps, they said.
The announcements came after the latest data from the US Energy Information Administration showed that US crude oil inventories fell for the second consecutive week last week, pointing to strong demand and supporting oil prices.
Front-month Brent crude oil futures — the international oil benchmark — last week rose 0.58 percent to US$68.12 per barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange, while West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures — the US oil gauge — gained 0.55 percent to US$64.01 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Separately, CPC said it would keep liquefied natural gas prices unchanged for household and industrial users this month in accordance with a government policy to help stabilize domestic consumer prices.