Due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, Russian oil was severely sanctioned by Western countries. The price of oil has dropped again and again, but it is still unsaleable. Our country has good trade relations with Russia, and has also increased its imports of Russian oil. But why are oil prices so strong when they rise, but so difficult when they fall?
This is also related to some situations in our own country. The first reason is that our three-barrel oil has more than 800,000 employees across the country. Among the three barrels of oil, the per capita income of Sinopec is relatively low, but it can still reach more than 200,000 yuan per person per year. In addition, social security pensions, medical insurance, housing provident funds and other social benefits are also fully paid. The standards of PetroChina and CNOOC are even higher than those of Sinopec.
Among the good jobs that we ordinary people think of, those who can work for three barrels of oil are not inferior to doctors, teachers, and civil servants in terms of income and social status. After all, the status of a central enterprise has special advantages in our country. But the huge three-barrel oil industry personnel is itself a huge expense. Netizens often joke that the oil drums must be expensive. Therefore, when international oil prices fall, the price of oil barrels does not fall, and may even rise. This oil barrel may be the huge expenditure of three barrels of oil personnel and equipment.
But at private gas stations in counties and rural areas, the increase in gas prices is actually not obvious. In June 2022, Sinopec and PetroChina were selling for more than 9 yuan per liter. Most of these private gas stations charge more than 7 yuan per liter. After all, the operating costs of private gas stations are lower, and staff wages and benefits are not as good as those of three barrels of oil. In addition, their location is remote and their reputation is not great. Therefore, when the price of oil is particularly high, these private gas stations are obviously more affordable than two barrels of oil.
The second reason is that our country has been vigorously developing electric vehicles in recent years. This can be seen from the car purchase taxes, subsidies and license plates.
In fact, from 1980 to 2009, our country levied taxes on fuel vehicles. It was first called road maintenance fees, and later it was renamed fuel surtax. But in 2009, road maintenance fees were added directly to gasoline. This means that if you drive more, you will consume more fuel, and if you consume more fuel, you will use more gasoline. Adding fuel surcharge to gasoline seems more fair. Whoever drives more will pay more tax. We haven’t mentioned the consumption tax, value-added tax and other various taxes on gasoline.
However, electric vehicles currently not only enjoy car purchase subsidies, but can even be charged with a car charger at home. The domestic electricity price in our country is basically more than 5 cents per kilowatt hour, or more than 6 cents per kilowatt hour. Therefore, the cost of using an electric vehicle is the electricity fee, and there is no tax. It will naturally attract more and more people to buy electric cars. After all, saving money is also very important among family cars.
On June 29, 2022, the National Development and Reform Commission issued a very special oil price control policy. The general meaning is that if the international oil price exceeds US$130 per barrel, the price of our domestic finished gasoline will not increase within two months. Perhaps it is because high oil prices will seriously affect the logistics and transportation industry, and high freight costs will cause prices to rise across the board. But will this also mean that international oil prices will rise in the future?
