Current price of gasoline in Beijing (Dec 18, 2007) ?

[crouchingdragon]

Can someone kindly answer a few questions related to the current price of gasoline(s) in Beijing per RMB/L .

I realize that there are different types of gasoline available at the Beijing gas stations. I presume that these grade-levels are based on an "Octane Rating" ? Perhaps this is a different Octane Rating than is used in the U.S. ? ( I apologize for being provincial but I have no other benchmark).

I ask about gasoline ratings in China because on CCTV, one sees a gasoline ratings of " 97 " at Beijing stations, which is very high "rating" to what is typically available in the U.S.

Is the price of gasoline uniform through out China ? (same as it is in Beijing ?).

Many Thanks

[geek_frappa]

No.

[jbradfor]

I can't really answer your question, but I can share some light one the "octane" rating.

Europe gasoline also has a very high octane rating by USA standards. 97 is not unusual for Europe too. Is their gas different? No, not really. It's measure a different way.

Europe (and I presume China) measures Octane by "Research Octane Number"; USA and Canada uses both the RON but also a different way called "Motor Octane Number". [Which is why you might see '(R+M)/2' on USA gas pumps. It says how the Octane is rated.] MON tends to be lower than RON, so the same gas has a lower octane rating in USA and Canada.

I know, sorry you asked now, eh?

[cdn_in_bj]

I ask about gasoline ratings in China because on CCTV, one sees a gasoline ratings of " 97 " at Beijing stations, which is very high "rating" to what is typically available in the U.S.

Yes, it's a different rating system like jbradfor explained. Basically it's numerically higher than the equivalent rating in the US.

I fill up with 93# here, which based on the anti-knock characteristics I would guess is equivalent to around North American 89 octane.

Is the price of gasoline uniform through out China ? (same as it is in Beijing ?).

Yes, the price of gas is regulated. That's why I couldn't tell you off-hand what gas costs right now (because the pricing is fixed, so I never bother to check), although it did go up a bit not too long ago.

[muyongshi]

The price is regulated but it varies form city to city. The regulations are based on the living standards/costs of a given particular city. However, the gap between the highest and lowest is much smaller. If I remember correctly when I was at a gas station recently on a bus I think I saw that the price was 6 something kuai per litre. No clue about what rating it was though.

[geek_frappa]

The price is regulated but it varies form city to city. The regulations are based on the living standards/costs of a given particular city.

yes, prices slide between 6%-10%; also, local politics definitely affects fuel prices. what i really like about China is the constant conversation the government has with the refiners. tries its best to keep the people happy with fair prices.

[cdn_in_bj]

what i really like about China is the constant conversation the government has with the refiners. tries its best to keep the people happy with fair prices.

Interesting you choose the term "conversation" for that. Yes, the consumers are happy, but the refiners are not - at current crude oil prices, they are operating at a loss.

This is one reason why I do not invest in large state-influenced corporations.

[jbradfor]

Interesting you should call the consumers "Happy" given the recent fuel shortage: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/05/content_7206624.htm

[Force people to produce a product at a loss, and they produce less of it! What a shock!]

[geek_frappa]

This is one reason why I do not invest in large state-influenced corporations.

what about large corporation-influenced states?

[cdn_in_bj]

what about large corporation-influenced states?

I pay my taxes. I have no choice...

[geek_frappa]

I pay my taxes. I have no choice...

good point.

Interesting you should call the consumers "Happy" given the recent fuel shortage: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...nt_7206624.htm

fuel shortages are localized problem, not so widespread. the best we can do in this case is just relax, help out your neighbor and live each day to the fullest. again, in the end hopefully everyone will be happy