Brazil's Fuel Task Force Arrives in São Paulo, ANP Fines Vibra, Ipiranga, and Nexta

After putting the fuel market on alert to more intensely monitor diesel and gasoline movements across the country, the government's fuel sector inspection task force announced its arrival in São Paulo, the largest market in the sector. On Thursday, October 19, distributors in the state were targeted by inspection actions as part of a coordinated offensive to investigate possible unjustified price increases. During the inspection, Vibra, Ipiranga, and Nexta Distribuidora were fined by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP). Separately, the National Consumer Protection Secretariat (Senacon) has set a 48-hour deadline for distributors Vibra, Ipiranga, and Raízen to provide clarifications regarding their costs and any price increases without just cause. “The inclusion of São Paulo reinforces the national character of this initiative, which brings together the National Consumer Secretariat, the National Public Security Secretariat, ANP, and the Federal Police. The expansion of these actions strengthens the monitoring of potential abusive practices in one of the most strategic regions for price formation,” ANP reported. Progress was also made in the Federal District, where inspections began the previous day. In actions led by the ANP, three distributors—Nexta, Ciapetro, and TDC Combustíveis—were fined today for indications of abusive pricing. The day before, Raízen, Ipiranga, and Masut had already been fined.