In Indonesia, more consumers now opting for higher octane gasoline

After the Indonesian government withdrew its subsidies for premium gasoline, PT Pertamina (Persero) said sales of its non-subsidized fuel, Pertamax, has risen by 200%. Pertamax gasoline has a research octane number (RON) of 92, while premium gasoline has a RON of 88.

Sales of Pertamax has risen to 7,000 kiloliters per day, from 2,000 kiloliters per day in 2014, Pertamina’s Vice President for Fuel Marketing M. Iskandar said.

The price of premium gasoline, which is now adjusted every month depending on global crude oil price fluctuations, is currently IDR 6,900 (USD 0.53) per litre, whereas Pertamax is IDR 8,600 (USD 0.66). With the price difference between the two narrowing, customers are switching to higher octane gasoline.

Iskandar predicted that the sale of Pertamax in 2015 could reach 2 million kiloliters, compared to less than 1 million kiloliters in 2014.

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