The prices of gasoline and diesel fuel have recorded, in the first half of November, a moderate oscillation, falling within a corridor of +/- 2-3 bani per day, ANRE notes. According to the institution, the price stability in the recent period is due to the fact that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has lowered its estimates on the growth of global oil demand both for the current and next year, IPN reports.

OPEC expects demand in the Asian state to increase by just 450,000 barrels/day, from a previously estimated 580,000 barrels/day, after diesel consumption fell for the seventh consecutive month in September. Similarly, Brent crude oil futures fell on November 15 to below $72 per barrel, stoking fears that the global oil market could soon face an oversupply.

Under these circumstances, prices for gasoline and diesel at filling stations in Moldova are expected to drop by two cents over the next three days. ANRE has set the maximum retail prices for gasoline at 22.78 lei/liter (-2 bani) and diesel at 19.84 lei/liter (+2 bani).