The liter of diesel in Germany, in January, cost more than double that paid by the Brazilian. The finding was made by Industrial Chemist, Specialist in O&G and PhD student in Bioenergy at Unicamp, Marcelo Gauto. According to the data presented, the Germans paid, on average, the equivalent of R $ 7.94 per liter of diesel in January, considering an exchange rate of 1 Euro for R $ 6.40.

In the composition of diesel oil prices in the European country, it can be seen that the incidence of taxes there is also more than double the amount charged here. The Germans pay 53% of taxes on the liter of diesel, against 23% of the total value of the fuel in Brazil. Another 22% of the composition of diesel oil prices in Germany comes from the distribution, resale and addition of biodiesel and the remainder (25%) corresponds to the cost of more refined oil.

In the same month of January, diesel oil in Brazil cost R $ 3.80 per liter, 23% equivalent to taxes, 28% in distribution, resale and biodiesel and 49% in the cost of more refined oil.

The fuel specialist also compared prices in Brazil with those in the United States. In this comparison, prices are almost identical, considering the exchange rate. The liter of diesel oil paid by the Americans was R $ 3.82 in January, distributed by 22% for taxes, 22% for distribution and resale and 56% for oil and refining.

According to Gauto, "it is necessary to take into account in these comparisons that are very different countries. USA and Germany have culture, education, income, size, transport matrix, etc., very different from ours, it is necessary to take this into account. Anyway , is a valid comparison to know why diesel prices bother us so much ". The expert also pointed out that the price in Brazil, considering that we are net importers, should be higher than the prices practiced in the USA.

On the constant criticism of Petrobras' current policy of readjusting fuel prices in Brazil according to the international market, Marcelo Gauto pointed out that "each market agent has a view on this. Abicom complains that prices are still out of date, Petrobras The formula for calculating the import parity price is neither unique nor unanimous, in addition to disregarding any producer needs to adjust its inventories, favoring volume rather than price. The fact that Petrobras does not immediately pass on market fluctuations is positive , to a certain extent, as long as it does not make competition unfeasible. "

Asked why diesel prices in Germany suffer such a high incidence of taxes, the expert argued that this would be a way to curb the use of fossil fuel there, and, as a side effect, encourage the use of renewable fuels.

Comparing prices in Brazil with the countries that make up the BRICS, still under study by Marcelo Gauto, Brazil has the second lowest dollar value per liter, second only to Russia, which has a diesel equivalent to US $ 0.64 /liter. In Brazil the price is 0.7 US $ / liter, against 0.9 US $ / liter in China, 1.05 US $ / liter in South Africa and 1.12 US $ / liter in India.