BUSINESS

PETROL RETAILERS AFFECTED BY WEAK FUEL PRICES, MCO

26/03/2020 07:43 PM

By Siti Radziah Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- The majority of petrol retailers nationwide will have to halt their operations due to financial stresses following the downtrend in fuel prices and weaker traffic due to the government's movement control order (MCO), says the body representing the interests of petrol dealers nationwide.

Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) president Datuk Khairul Annuar Abdul Aziz said petrol retailers have recorded a 70 per cent reduction in sales of fuel products.

"Many will have to close soon, there is no more money. It will depend on how much reserve they have. We are not allowed to take unpaid leave, our electricity is still at the same rate. We did not get the 15 per cent rebate, but we are badly affected. It’s going to be tough," he told Bernama. 

Fuel prices are massively down across the board from March 21 to 27 with RON97 priced at RM1.74 per litre, down 36 sen from RM2.10 per litre, while RON95 is priced at RM1.44 per litre, down from RM1.82 per litre in the previous week, and the diesel price has been reduced by 12 sen to RM1.75 per litre.

The  significant price reductions are due to uncertainty in crude oil prices affected by the misunderstanding among oil-producing countries, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic which is affecting the global economy. 

Khairul Annuar said with petrol retailers' working capital depleting, some of them fear that they may not have enough savings to buy fuel.  

"Everyday we sell, We bought at the (previous) price of RM1.82 (per litre), and then (the pump) price goes down to RM1.44, that’s a 38 sen reduction for RON95.

“By a lucky coincidence, sales had been very low when we were selling fuel at a 38 sen loss for a week or so.

"It’s been three weeks of declining prices, and we have already lost RM40,000 this week, money that’s part of our working capital. At the end of the month we have to pay workers’ wages, and electricity bills of between RM30,000 and RM70,000 (depending on size of petrol station), which is also part of our working capital," he added. 

Khairul Annuar said petrol dealers typically have a working capital of only RM200,000, and are unable to cope in the current situation. 

PDAM has been stressing the need for establishing floor prices for fuel, as well as for a stabilisation fund to help petrol retailers, he said. 

"That is what we have been requesting since last week, but they are afraid the people will be angry.  I think, one, you should not move that much, and two, the prices are unprecedentedly low now. I am not sure if they were any lower it would be better for the rakyat. 

"It is better to put a floor (price). Anything extra that the government collects in the stabilisation fund can go towards a subsidy (scheme) when the prices go above the ceiling. A stabilisation fund is a good mechanism,” he pointed out.

-- BERNAMA

 

 


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