Brazil maintains fuel subsidies, steps up price inspections

On 23 July 2026 Finance Minister Dario Durigan signed a decree extending the R$ 0.44‑per‑litre gasoline subsidy for another 30 days, effective 26 July, as Brent crude stayed above US$ 100 per barrel amid renewed Middle‑East tensions. The subsidy is paid directly to producers and importers through the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP). The diesel subsidy of R$ 1.12 per litre remains unchanged, and the temporary extra discount of R$ 0.35 per litre, suspended in early July, will not be reinstated. Planning and Budget Minister Bruno Moretti said the current oil‑price level has not yet produced enough domestic price pressure to justify restoring the additional diesel relief, emphasizing a “price‑softening strategy.” Monthly outlays are about R$ 1.3 billion for gasoline and R$ 5.5 billion for diesel, bringing total fuel‑price support to roughly R$ 14.5 billion year‑to‑date. Petrobras has raised refinery‑level gasoline prices, but the subsidy limited the increase passed to consumers to about R$ 0.04 per litre.

In parallel, the ANP has intensified its enforcement of fuel‑price rules, completing more than 3,300 inspections since March and issuing 683 infractions, including 23 for unjustified price hikes. A new three‑month phase beginning 1 July will boost inspection activity by over 40 %, targeting fuel stations, LPG retailers and ethanol producers, with fines ranging from R$ 50,000 to R$ 500 million. The municipal consumer‑protection authority Procon in Natal has also expanded its price‑survey checks on fuels and other essential goods, adding a dedicated health‑care unit and targeting abuses in other sectors. Both agencies stress information sharing and consumer education to safeguard market fairness while the subsidies remain temporary tools to shield households from fuel‑price‑driven inflation.