This increase is due to different factors such as:

1. continuous falls in fuel reserves in the United States, according to reports from the International Energy Agency (IEA), has reported decreases in gasoline of 10.1 million barrels for the first two weeks of March. added to the 9.9 million barrels of february.

2. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies have decided to extend the production cut of 2.2 million barrels of oil per day until the second quarter of the year, generating tension in the international hydrocarbons market.

3. Russia has initiated a six-month suspension of gasoline exports, which began on march 1, impacting international supply and causing considerable increases in the prices of this oil derivative in global markets.

4. China, the world's largest importer of oil and oil derivatives, has reduced its diesel consumption during the month of March. This decrease is mainly due to lower demand from both industry and the real estate market. As a result, there has been a slight easing in the international prices of this derivative.

The price of premium gasoline will increase US$0.16 for this fortnight in the central and western zone, while in the east of the country the increase will be US$0.15 per gallon, trading between US$4.48 and US$4.52 nationwide.

Regular will increase US$0.09 throughout the country and will be sold at US$4.17, US$4.18 and US$4.21 per gallon in the central, western and eastern zones of the country.

In the case of diesel, it will go down US$0.11 a gallon nationwide, with a reference price between US$3.96 and US$4.

Translated by: A.M