Update on gasoline and oil prices on April 18: Forecast of decrease in the next operating period

At 7:00 PM on April 18, WTI oil price was at 83.85 USD/barrel, down 10.84 USD/barrel, equivalent to a decrease of 11.45%. Brent oil was at 90.38 USD/barrel, down 9.01 USD/barrel, equivalent to a decrease of 9.07%.

Oil prices fell by about 9% after Iran announced that it would allow all commercial ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz for the remainder of the ceasefire agreement and US President Donald Trump said Iran had agreed to never close this strait again.

The world gasoline and oil market in this operating period is influenced by key factors such as: the US deploying measures to blockade the Strait of Hormuz; expectations for further negotiations between the US and Iran to end the conflict; military conflict between Russia and Ukraine still taking place... The above factors have caused world finished gasoline and oil prices in recent days to increase and decrease depending on each item.

The selling prices of popular consumer gasoline and oil items on the market on April 18, 2026 are as follows:

- E5RON92 gasoline: not higher than 22,592 VND/liter (an increase of 248 VND/liter compared to the current maximum selling price), lower than RON95-III gasoline by 1,669 VND/liter;

- RON95-III gasoline: not higher than 23,761 VND/liter (an increase of 218 VND/liter compared to the current maximum selling price);

- Diesel oil 0.05S: not higher than 31,041 VND/liter (down 1,928 VND/liter compared to the current maximum selling price);

- 180CST 3.5S mazut oil: not higher than 20,332 VND/kg (down 2,281 VND/kg compared to the current maximum selling price).

According to a gasoline and oil business, it is predicted that domestic gasoline and oil prices in the next operating session may decrease sharply from 1,200 - 4,200 VND/liter.

According to the National Assembly's Resolution, from April 16 to June 30, environmental protection tax on gasoline (excluding ethanol), diesel oil, aviation fuel, kerosene and mazut oil will be 0 VND. Special consumption tax on all types of gasoline will also be reduced to 0%. Gasoline, diesel oil and aviation fuel are not subject to VAT declaration and payment but are still subject to input deductions.

According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in the base price structure of gasoline and oil, VAT accounts for about 7.4%; environmental protection tax 2.7-6%, and special consumption 6.7%. Therefore, reducing all these taxes to 0 until the end of June is a solution to ensure socio-economic development goals this year, controlling inflation.