THE fourth price rise in diesel and gasoline this year had increased the burden on logistics companies which were suffering from declining profits.
Zhou Kewen, chairman of Shenzhen Tieli Container Transport Co., said the price hikes were now costing a truck an additional 200 yuan (US$30) for a round trip between Shenzhen and Guangzhou.
The National Development and Reform Commission on Wednesday announced an increase in the price of No. 90 gasoline by 0.23 yuan a liter and diesel by 0.26 yuan effective immediately.
The price hike is driving logistics companies to the brink of zero profit. The four price hikes this year have increased the company s operational costs by 15.3 percent, Zhou said.
There are now 15,000 registered container trucks and trailers in the city. If each truck runs 6,000-8,000 kilometers a month and consumes 33 liters of diesel oil per 100 kilometers, transport companies would be paying an average of 20 million to 30 million yuan to cover the price hikes, according to Xu Xiaoming, secretary general of the Shenzhen Container and Trailer Transport Industry Association.
The price increases had pushed logistics companies into a tough position because they were not able to raise service fees for fear of losing customers, Xu said.
Private car drivers who travel 1,000 kilometers a month and consume 10 liters per 100 kilometers would pay an additional 23 yuan a month and 276 yuan a year. Vehicles causing higher exhaust emissions would cost more.
According to taxi driver Luo of Huarong Taxi Co., the fuel price increase meant an additional 15-20 yuan a day, or 700-1,000 yuan a month, running 400-500 kilometers a day.
City transport authorities were looking at adjusting taxi charges to reflect gasoline prices. While fuel prices remain between 6.53 yuan and 7.40 yuan per liter, the taxi surcharge would remain unchanged at 2 yuan per trip.
(Han Ximin)
