The average retail price of gasoline in Japan soared to a 17-month high of 185.10 yen per liter as of Monday, following a reduction in a government subsidy, industry ministry data showed Wednesday.
The average price for regular gasoline increased 4.40 yen from a week earlier, rising for the second straight week and hitting its highest level since marking an all-time high of 186.50 yen in September 2023, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
With U.S. President Donald Trump saying that he is considering lowering energy prices by ramping up production of fossil fuels, the price of gasoline in Japan could be affected by global trends in the price of crude oil, analysts said.
Following the latest subsidy cut on Thursday, the Japanese government is paying oil wholesalers to keep the average price of regular gasoline at around 185 yen. The ministry said the subsidy lowered the price by 16.40 yen.
Gasoline in Kochi Prefecture, western Japan, was the most expensive in the country at 193.60 yen per liter, while the cheapest price of 177.80 yen was recorded in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan.
Meanwhile, the price of diesel also jumped to 164.70 yen per liter, up 4.40 yen from the previous week while kerosene climbed to 2,280 yen per tank of 18 liters, up 73 yen, the ministry said.
© KYODO
17 Comments
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MarkX
I've said this for a while, I know there has been a subsidy for gas, but the yen has remained low but fairly stable at a range of Y155-158, and oil has also stayed in a stable range, so why the big increases? Also, how can Iwate sell gas so cheap? They are next door to us and we are paying Y188/l?
Jay
Green tyranny strikes again, robbing the pockets of hardworking citizens while lining the wallets of a privileged few elites pushing their climate cult agenda. At a ridiculous 185 yen/L, families are being CRUSHED under the weight of evil globalist policies designed not to save the planet but to make the masses poorer and more desperate.
This isn't saving the environment - it's economic warfare on ordinary people, forcing them to choose between driving to work and picking up the kids, or putting food on the table.
The real pollution here is the global corruption choking the freedom and prosperity of regular hardworking people.
On a side note, thank God for Costco and their fuel savings of 10-15yen per liter.
リッチ
Price is a total scam as the government taxes which the government controls are out of control. Only the wealthy benefit. Record profits in oeteol and giver racking it in and the costs passed on with everything causing additional inflation based on tax and ultra rich
151E
Wait until war with Iran kicks off, then we'll be seeing unprecedented oil prices!
sakurasuki
Any information when Yen getting stronger anytime soon? If not then just accept those price, don't surprised if it passed 200 yen marks!
SDCA
Diesel better not stay high for too long or we'll have problems. The logistics business will have to pass down the extra costs.
browny1
Save for a massive drop in 2020, a dip in 2016 and a Ukraine war fueled leap in early 2022, the benchmark price of oil set by Brent Crude has not been all over the place.
This has rarely been reflected in true pump prices.
Just Govt / Business Oligarchs playing their version of Monoply on the World Board.
Blattamexiguus
I wonder where these price numbers are coming from.
I bought petrol for 171¥/ltr in Saitama.
Bad Haircut
Yup. I filled up my diesel the other day there for 133 yen/l. It was hovering around 150 elsewhere.
timeon
I don't know where you guys live, but it's been around the 170 yen mark for one year or so in Tokyo (gasoline, standard). I've noticed the last 2 weeks or so that it is going up, this morning it was 179 yen, with member discount.
kohakuebisu
This is very high. I can remember paying 72 a litre for kero home delivery 15 years ago, so its gone up much more as a percentage than car fuel. 2280 divided by 18 is 127 yen a litre. That's without delivery.
We have a kero boiler and one kero heater that is vented outside. Its in our big living room that now has an air con, which is cheaper to run than kero. I still turn on the kero heater out of habit, but should probably just use the air con.
kohakuebisu
Filling up all the time means people notice the price of fuel. In reality, owning a car costs a fortune in many different ways, especially if you fork out for a new car, but people notice the fuel cost more.
nandakandamanda
It pays to shop around until you find a relatively less expensive service station. I was paying around 169 to 171 yen per liter for regular fuel over last few months, but yesterday I saw this January jump now reflected at 179 at our filling station in town. (With the members' card that drops to 177 yen.)
An expensive jump, but way cheaper than around 270 yen back in the old country.
Hervé L'Eisa
The prices vary by region because of local taxes in addition to the national taxes.
grc
The problem with gas price increases is that it knocks on to just about everything else - four-times-a-day delivery costs to tens of thousands of convenience stores being an obvious example. Expect Kuroneko to raise prices too.
CrashTestDummy
Gas prices super high!! How is everyone liking those climate change green policies now?
wallace
Better get on ya bikes!
factchecker
Haven't owned a car in 17 years and loved every minute of it.