Indonesia’s state-owned Pertamina, the largest gasoline importer in Asia, is seeking to defer gasoline shipments in April as the country’s efforts to curb the coronavirus pandemic hit demand for the fuel. Pertamina’s spokeswoman Fajriyah Usman said it was in talks with suppliers to postpone cargoes until it needs them again.
Indonesia’s gasoline imports have fallen by about 50% from their monthly average of 333,333 bpd in 2019. Analysts expected that the country’s gasoline imports in April could fall by about 100,000 to 150,000 bpd from a year earlier.
Pertamina is also reportedly planning to cut refinery runs as the “work-for-home” order hit the demand for road fuel in Indonesia. According to the company, daily fuel sales have been falling by about 16% to 113,000 kilolitres since the measure was taken.
According to Pertamina’s statement on April 3, the company has 22 days worth of gasoline stocks, with stocks of the 98-octane grade that can last for 42 days. It has 89 days worth of kerosene stocks, 24 days worth of gasoil stocks, and more than 53 days worth of diesel with a cetane number of 53.
