Government Keeps Most Fuel Prices Frozen and Increases Subsidy
The government is freezing gasoline and diesel prices for another week, and the fuel subsidy has already reached RD$43,324 million in 2026.
Key points
- Premium gasoline at RD$358.10 and regular at RD$317.50 per gallon, unchanged.
- Regular diesel at RD$270.80 and optimal diesel at RD$318.10 per gallon, frozen.
- This week's subsidy totals RD$1,516.5 million.
- LPG sells for RD$135.20 per gallon, though its real price is RD$196.46 according to Diario Libre.
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM) reported that the government has frozen the price of most fuels for the week of October 31 to November 6. To do so, it will allocate a subsidy of RD$1,516.5 million, bringing the total spent on this concept in 2026 to RD$43,324 million.
Premium gasoline stays at RD$358.10 per gallon and regular at RD$317.50. Regular diesel will sell for RD$270.80 per gallon and optimal diesel for RD$318.10, also unchanged. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will be dispensed at RD$135.20 per gallon and natural gas at RD$43.97 per cubic meter, both without changes.
According to Diario Libre, the real price of LPG this week is RD$196.46 per gallon, so the government is subsidizing RD$61.25 per gallon, equal to 45.31% of its current cost, to prevent the increase from hitting the most vulnerable sectors. The same outlet says the international price of LPG has risen more than 34% between October 1 and 28, driven by high winter-season demand.
In international markets, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a drop of 2.5 million barrels in diesel inventories, now 12% below the five-year average. According to Diario Libre, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has reduced global diesel output, pushing its price to an average of US$201.60 per barrel.
Elsewhere, jet fuel (avtur) will fall RD$1.84 per gallon to RD$356.82. Kerosene will cost RD$400.10 per gallon, RD$2.60 less. No. 6 fuel oil will be dispensed at RD$194.56 per gallon, down RD$1.31, while 1% sulfur fuel oil will rise RD$2.22 to RD$234.86 per gallon.
Why it matters
The freeze protects consumers from higher pump prices for the week of October 31 to November 6, but the state carries a growing cost to keep them in place.