asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the annual average prices in respect of both premium and regular petrol for each year since 1979 for (i) the basic product price, a composite of the import price and the Whitegate price including freight and currency variation, (ii) the tax-excluded wholesale price, and (iii) the tax-excluded retail price.
Written Answers. - Petrol Price Formula.
The information requested by the Deputy form elements in the petrol price formula operated by the National Prices Commission from 1984 to 1986. Prior to 1984 increases in prices were approved from time to time on the basis of applications from individual oil companies and then only in respect of specific elements in the price structures of these companies. Accordingly, the information is not readily available in the form requested for years prior to 1984.
Annual Average Petrol Prices (Pence Per Litre)
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
Jan — May 1987 |
|||||
Premium |
Regular |
Premium |
Regular |
Premium |
Regular |
Premium |
Regular |
|
Basic Product Price |
18.55 |
17.65 |
18.84 |
17.68 |
10.19 |
8.64 |
9.28 |
8.07 |
Composite Product Price (Import and Whitegate incl. freight and currency variation) |
20.07 |
19.12 |
19.99 |
18.66 |
11.26 |
9.94 |
10.04 |
8.95 |
Tax-excluded Whole sale price |
24.90 |
24.18 |
24.86 |
23.82 |
16.34 |
15.59 |
15.53 |
14.87 |
Tax-excluded retail price |
28.24 |
27.52 |
28.20 |
27.16 |
20.41 |
19.79 |
19.64 |
18.87 |
92.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce for each year since 1979, the annual average prices used in the build up of the premium petrol price and the regular petrol price in Ireland for (i) the published spot price in north-west Europe, (ii) the official selling price of crude oil on a mix of crude oils sourced 80 per cent from the North Sea (Brent) and 20 per cent OPEC Arab light, (iii) the actual import price CIF, (iv) the Whitegate production price, and (v) the netback price of the major European markets.
The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:
(i) The published spot price in North West Europe
$ per tonne
Premium |
Regular |
|||
Min |
Max |
Min |
Max |
|
1979 |
367.15— |
372.42 |
353.05— |
358.99 |
1980 |
362.92— |
361.17 |
354.76— |
359.24 |
1981 |
358.15— |
362.20 |
340.65— |
344.65 |
1982 |
335.91— |
338.89 |
318.02— |
320.90 |
1983 |
292.24— |
294.76 |
277.14— |
279.91 |
1984 |
265.44— |
267.31 |
255.40— |
257.36 |
1985 |
265.80— |
267.49 |
248.89— |
250.52 |
1986 |
168.51— |
171.57 |
144.07— |
145.99 |
1987 |
186.94— |
190.23 |
167.65— |
182.39 |
(ii) Official Selling Price of Crude Oil: 80% North Sea Brent: 20% Arab Light
Average |
Per Barrel |
1979 |
$20.6 |
1980 |
$34 |
1981 |
$36.4 |
1982 |
$33.4 |
1983 |
$30.1 |
1984 |
$29.6 |
1985 |
$27.4 |
1986 Official Prices Abandoned
Official Price for Arab Light re-introduced on 1st February 1987 at £17.52 per barrel.
(iii) The CIF imported price of motor spirit
$ per tonne
1979 |
$271.38 |
1980 |
$362.02 |
1981 |
$379.55 |
1982 |
$357.01 |
1983 |
$315.23 |
1984 |
$285.49 |
1985 |
$285.47 |
1986 |
$198.68 |
1987 (to May) |
$182.89 |
(iv) Whitegate Production Price (£ per tonne)
Premium |
Regular |
|
1982 |
£289.29 |
£282.14 |
1983 |
£280.95 |
£273.11 |
1984 |
£286.40 |
£278.04 |
1985 |
£277.15 |
£267.44 |
1986 |
£155.13 |
£152.76 |
1987 |
£136.40 |
£129.45 |
(v) My Department does not have information in relation to the netback value of petrol in the major European markets. Consultants employed by the National Prices Commission undertook a study on this aspect in 1983 but the commission felt unable to disclose individual figures from the Irish analysis for reasons of statutory and commercial confidentiality.