While local fuel wholesalers tend to complain of losses while asking to
increase retail prices whenever global prices soar, filling stations have their
own tactic: shutting their doors immediately after the wholesalers call on
authorities for a price hike.
A number of filling stations in
Ho Chi Minh City and the neighboring provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Duong and Binh
Thuan pulled this trick again Sunday, displeasing customers with banners that
read “out of electricity,” or “empty stock.”
The moves were made just days
after two wholesalers, Petimex and Petec, called on the Ministry of Finance to
increase fuel retail prices by VND1,200 a liter.
This scenario has become
increasingly common in Vietnam this year: wholesalers propose to hike prices,
filling stations temporarily shut down, and prices eventually rise.
On August 26 many dealers of the
Thalexim wholesaler in HCMC’s Cu Chi District refused to sell, employing the
excuse that they were “running out of stock,” local customers complained.
Meanwhile in Bien Hoa City, a
long line of customers waiting to refill their vehicles at the Doan 22 filling
station on August 26 were disappointed by the employees telling them that the
stock was empty.
Locals said the station made a
similar move two weeks ago, before returning to normal operations immediately
after the gasoline price was hiked by VND900 a liter.
In Binh Duong, three filling
stations located within just 1 – 2km of Provincial Route No.747 in Tan Uyen
District all hung up “out of power” banners to stop sales.
Duong Manh Dung, deputy head of
the Market Management Agency in Dong Nai, told Tuoi Tre on Sunday that they
have sent forces to permanently monitor the filling stations.
“If the stations show signs of
speculating fuel, they will be strictly penalized,” he said.
If a fuel price increase is
actually announced in the days to come, it will be the third straight hike in
less than a month.
Fuel prices have seen five
reduction and five increases so far this year, losing a total of VND3,200 a
liter, but gaining a huge VND5,400 a liter.
TUOI TRE
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