Caltex follows Shell's lead, raises petrol prices

Singapore-headquartered Caltex on Tuesday (Sept 29) night raised prices across its petrol offerings.

In a price board update published at 9pm, the Chevron-owned oil company announced a 5-cent increase for its 92-, 95-octane and platinum-98 petrol.

The move mirrors the 5-cent hike posted by Shell earlier that afternoon .

Both companies kept their respective diesel prices unchanged.

As at 8.30am on Wednesday, Esso, Sinopec and SPC have not yet posted adjustments to their pump prices.

Between Sept 14 and 20, fuel prices in Singapore climbed steadily, with five rounds of increments posted in just seven days after over two months of unchanged prices.

Following the adjustments to petrol prices on Tuesday, the more popular 95-octane petrol now costs between $2.54 at Cnergy and $3.54 at Caltex and Shell.

Prices are correct as at 9am on Sept 30. All prices are before discounts.

*Indicates change to posted price(s) made on Sept 29.

Concerns linger over oil supply

The two major fuel companies' moves come as lingering concern over Middle East supply disruption brought about by the US-Israel war on Iran outweighed signs of recovering crude exports from the region.

Reflecting this, Brent crude futures for November rose to US$106.99 (S$136.70) a barrel on Tuesday morning, before easing to close at $102.59 a barrel.

"The dominant risk remains the US-Iran standoff and its implications for energy prices and inflation expectations," said UOB analysts in a client note.

Meanwhile, US forces withdrew from their remaining bases in Iraq on Wednesday, raising fears they will leave behind a security vacuum, further emboldening Iranian-backed militias and give the resurgent Islamic State group an opening to regroup, Reuters reported.

Iraq is a major global oil producer and holds the fifth-largest proven crude oil reserves in the world.

总部位于新加坡的加德士（Caltex）周二（9月29日）晚间提高了旗下所有汽油产品的价格。

在晚上 9 点发布的油价更新中，雪佛龙旗下的石油公司宣布，其 92 号、95 号辛烷值汽油和铂金 98 号汽油的价格上涨 5 分。

此举与壳牌公司当天下午早些时候宣布的 5 美分涨价相呼应。

两家公司均维持各自的柴油价格不变。

截至周三上午 8 点 30 分，埃索、中石化和中国石油天然气集团公司尚未公布其汽油零售价格的调整。

9 月 14 日至 20 日期间，新加坡燃油价格稳步上涨，在经历了两个多月的价格不变之后，短短七天内就上调了五轮。

周二汽油价格调整后，更受欢迎的 95 号汽油目前在 Cnergy 的价格为 2.54 美元，在 Caltex 和 Shell 的价格为 3.54 美元。

价格截至9月30日上午9点有效。所有价格均为折扣前价格。

*表示9月29日公布的价格有所更改。

人们仍然担忧石油供应。

两家主要燃料公司的举措出台之际，人们对美以战争导致中东供应中断的担忧依然存在，而该地区原油出口复苏的迹象却被这种担忧所掩盖。

受此影响，11 月布伦特原油期货价格周二上午上涨至每桶 106.99 美元（136.70 新元），随后回落，最终收于每桶 102.59 美元。

“主要风险仍然是美伊僵局及其对能源价格和通胀预期的影响，”大华银行分析师在一份客户报告中表示。

据路透社报道，与此同时，美军于周三撤离了在伊拉克的剩余基地，这引发了人们的担忧，即美军撤离后将留下安全真空，进一步壮大伊朗支持的民兵组织，并为死灰复燃的伊斯兰国组织提供重整旗鼓的机会。

伊拉克是全球主要的石油生产国，拥有世界第五大已探明原油储量。