ArmInfo.The Armenian fuel market, which has been under the influence of three politically interconnected players over the past decades, and therefore does not have a natural price environment, is becoming more flexible and competitive.
In recent days, retail prices at gas stations across the country have shown an unprecedented picture of diversity. The price per liter of "Regular" gasoline in the RAN OIL network was 370 AMD, while for such players as SPS and "Flash" it is 400 and even 410 AMD per liter, respectively.
According to independent observers, a significant decrease in retail prices was possible solely due to a change in the ownership structure of RAN OIL, which was recently acquired by the diversified company SIL Concern. Commenting on the deal, the representative of the Concern Anna Mkrtchyan noted that it would strengthen the competitive environment in the gasoline import and sale market, improve the quality of products, and create a fair price environment. "Economic development is the result of competition, not of established monopolies, as was the case in previous years," she wrote.
According to independent market experts, there have been no competitive prices for many years. There was an impression that was close to the truth that there was an unspoken agreement between the market players on a "single price for gasoline", strictly contrary to market laws and conjuncture and unconditionally controlled by political methods. Now this hardened system of price retention has actually been broken.
