China raised retail ceilings for gasoline and diesel from Saturday, but kept the increases below what its pricing formula would have allowed, the National Development and Reform Commission said. Gasoline rose by 260 yuan per metric ton and diesel by 250 yuan per ton, versus formula allowances of 435 and 420 yuan per ton, according to China.org.cn and Reuters.
Reuters framed the Saturday adjustment as the third time China has limited fuel price increases since the Iran war began. The NDRC said the capped rises were meant to cushion the impact of higher international oil prices on the domestic market since the prior August 28 adjustment, citing geopolitical uncertainty.
The policy keeps yuan-per-ton retail ceilings as the official measure. Liter pump prices were not issued as official lead figures in the NDRC materials cited here. The Saturday effective date locks the move for energy and inflation watchers tracking wartime crude spikes into China’s administered fuel system.
Sources: Reuters ( +260 / +250 vs formula 435 / 420; effective Sep 12; third wartime limit); China.org.cn NDRC rewrite (+260 / +250; formula 435 / 420; cushioning language); The Hindu Business Line / Reuters (caps from Sep 12).
