The Argentine government has modified the technical quality specifications for gasoline with the aim of containing fuel prices, which have increased by 20% to 25% in March amid the Middle East conflict.
Under the new resolution, refineries can now voluntarily incorporate up to 15% bioethanol into their blends. "The measure aims to give greater flexibility to the industry and to mitigate potential increases in fuel prices at the pump, protecting the consumer," the Ministry of Energy detailed in an official statement.
As the agency explained, the resolution does not modify the mandatory bioethanol blend or impose new requirements on refineries. It also does not introduce changes to the regime applicable to biodiesel, as the current technical specification for gasoil already contemplates blends of up to 20%.
Additionally, sources from the Ministry of Energy reported this Friday that the National Government has decided to suspend the next update—scheduled for April—of taxes on liquid fuels and carbon dioxide.
The Argentine Federation of Business Entities of Road Freight Transport (Fadeeac) warned that in March so far, prices for gasoil and gasoline in the South American country have increased three to five times, ranging from 20% to 25%.
Currently, the most widely used gasoil in the transport sector already exceeds 2,100 pesos ($1.51) per liter in Argentina, and according to a statement from FADEAC, "everything indicates that the month will close with the highest increase in gasoil costs in the last two years."
Companies observed that, measured in dollars, the liter of gasoil in Argentina has reached one of its highest values in the last decade and has positioned itself as one of the most expensive in the region.
The Argentine government modified this Friday the technical quality specifications for gasoline with the objective of containing the price of fuel, which increased between 20% and 25% in what has been of March, in the context of the Middle East conflict.
Resolution 79/2026 raised the maximum limit of oxygen allowed in gasoline to 5.6%.
