Fuel sales are falling while prices are rising. According to the Confederation of Hydrocarbon and Related Trade Entities (CECHA), the share of premium gasoline increased by more than 40% in a year, while premium gasoline increased by more than 30%.
According to the latest data from the National Energy Secretariat, the fuel market again showed signs of slowing at gas stations in October, with total sales down 1.2% year-on-year ordinary diesel the biggest trigger for the contraction.
In the breakdown by company YPF And Axion energy They were the only major brands that managed to grow year-on-year in October: the state-owned company was up 3.49% and Axion was up 0.68%.
In contrast, sleeve recorded a decline of 11.65% despite being the second largest company in terms of total shipment volume (321.9 million liters), behind YPF (796.9 million liters) and above Axion (179 million liters). They have almost sold all three 90% of fuel shipped from Argentina in October.
These figures do not include quantities sold in bulk to dealers or directly to industry and agriculture.
However, amid the general decline in filling stations, one phenomenon stood out again in the tenth month of the year: premium fuels rose sharply, consolidating a trend that has been ongoing since mid-2024.
Sales of premium gasoline, for which offers are already available from some suppliers over $2,000 per litergrew by 7.08% compared to October last year, while specialty diesel increased by 6.18%.
The question is: Given the lower fuel consumption, why do more drivers choose to buy higher quality but more expensive fuel?
One of the reasons is technological. Newer diesel vehicles require higher quality fuels, lower sulfur content and higher octane ratings. This makes them more compatible with the premium formulations offered by the Argentine market.
“The local market generally offers an ordinary diesel with up to 800 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur, which is not suitable for the latest generation engines. And I’m not just referring to trucks, but also to tractors and combines that work in the field,” explained Sandra Yachelini, vice president of commercial and marketing at Axion Energy.
Something similar happens with gasoline. In this case they are few Engines that require the technical characteristics and special features of premium gasoline, but the increase in automobile sales has led to more and more buyers of these new vehicles giving priority to gasoline with higher octane and lower sulfur content, which improves not only combustion but also engine performance.
Thanks to its higher octane number, premium gasoline ensures more efficient combustion.
In parallel, a growing segment of consumers is seeking a consistent experience: not just better fuel, but also more comprehensive, higher quality service. Refueling without surprises, product care from origin to destination, additives that guarantee cleanliness, modern facilities and clear processes. This search for superior quality throughout the fuel journey also explains the increase in demand for higher quality products.
The work by Santiago Cerutti (UNLP), based on data from the Department of Energy and the company, explains that customers who value high-quality experiences – such as good food, well-maintained rooms or Wi-Fi – also tend to choose higher quality fuels. Competition, traditionally based on price and location, is shifting towards the quality of the overall offering.
The general decline in sales is therefore accompanied by a structural movement: premium fuels are becoming essential for modern engines and valued by consumers who value performance, cleanliness and service experience.
The trend that is already pushing oil companies to invest in more advanced formulations appears to be far from exhausted. And in a shrinking market, the highest quality fuels are, paradoxically, the ones that are growing the most.
About The Author
