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October witnessed new trends in auto fuel prices, IraqSlogger's sources report from around the country. The charts below present Slogger's exclusive data tracking the black-market prices of auto fuel in several Iraqi provinces over the month of October.
As Slogger readers know, the state-set price of auto fuel is set at 400 ID/liter. However, fuel is often unavailable in officially sanctioned fuel stations at that price, and consumers are often forced to turn to the informal market operations, ranging from to tank up. Fuel is usually sold in 20-liter allotments; Slogger presents its data in the chart below in per-liter cost to facilitate comparison.
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The most readily notable feature on the chart representing October's prices is the highest line, defined by Qadisiya Province, where the Diwaniya city has been among the most restive areas in the country in October. In fact, the security situation prevented data from arriving this week, but it is presumable that gasoline prices remain at their high levels as unrest continues in that province.
Also striking is the spike in prices in the Kurdish province of Suleimaniya (plotted in dotted line), where cross-border tensions with Turkey have escalated in the last month. Note that the northern regions of Iraq are dependent on Turkish refining capabilities for petroleum derivatives.
Basra province has shed its September title for the lowest fuel-prices, as Slogger sources reported a climb in street prices for fuel in Basra of over 60% in the last month, peaking a week ago and easing somewhat this week. As reported earlier on Slogger, Basra saw open fighting last week between rival factions, although the authorities have announced that the security forces have regained control the city.
Meanwhile, IraqSlogger sources in Nasiriya, capital of Dhi Qar province, report that street prices have equalized with official prices, and report this week that the black-market vendors of gasoline are no longer operating.
Another notable feature is the surprising decline in prices in Kirkuk, shedding almost 30% over the first three weeks of October and stabilizing at 500 ID/liter.
The chart below shows the same data with the province of Qadisiya dropped from the presentation, for a closer look at the behavior of prices in the other sampled provinces.
Stay tuned for more of IraqSlogger's exclusive prices data and analysis, all of which can be viewed here.
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