On Friday, Lukoil and Orlen stations in Vilnius were selling 95 gasoline, the most popular grade in the country, at 4.95 litas per liter, 8 to 10 Lithuanian cents higher than a week ago. Statoil raised the price by 9 cents to 4.96 litas.
"Global oil product prices stabilized somewhat today, but they fluctuate, rising one day and falling the next. There are no clear trends or forecasts for a very sharp rise at the moment. Prices are fluctuating toward 5 litas, let's put it that way," Lukas Vosylius, the president of Lithuanian's Association of Oil Product Trade Enterprises, told BNS.
"Possibly, we will reach the 5 litas mark in spring," he added.
Vosylius noted that the price of 98-grade gasoline in Latvia has already crossed the 5-litas mark. "Apparently, the conflict between the West and Iran is the objective reason. If the conflict remains verbal, then it will have no major impact on the price. However, if concrete moves begin, we will feel that too," he said.
Romas Turlinskas, Lukoil Baltija's retail director, told BNS that the wholesale gasoline price in Lithuania has surged by 30 centas in the past month, but retailers have not increased their prices that much.
"Everything depends on global prices. Today, for example, based on Platts' prices for key products, gasoline and diesel fuel prices fell by 15-20 US dollars. Orlen Lietuva will reduce its (wholesale) prices accordingly. We will most probably cut our prices by the end of the day as well," he said.
Turlinskas said that gasoline prices are similar across the Baltics and in Poland. "No matter if you are in Latvia or in Lithuania, a liter of gasoline will cost you around 4.9-4.95 litas," he said.
Week-on-week, diesel fuel prices rose by 4 cents to 4.72 litas per liter at Lukoil stations, remained stable at 4.68 litas at Orlen stations, and went down by 1 centas to 4.69 litas at Statoil stations.
Liquefied petroleum gas prices at Lukoil and Orlen stations stood unchanged at 2.34 litas, while Statoil cut the price by 2 cents to 2.34 litas.
