On August 16, 2026, the national Government issued Supreme Decree No. 5676, introducing a differentiated scheme for the sale of diesel sourced from Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB).
Although the measure has been publicly presented as a price increase targeting “large consumers” (GRACOS), it will also apply to those registered and authorized as Direct Users and Direct Clients. Consumers who do not fall under any of the expressly covered categories will continue to be subject to regulated final prices.
Purpose
The Decree authorizes YPFB to sell diesel to Direct Clients and GRACOS, as well as Service Stations and Sales Points to sell it to Direct Users, in both cases at the Reference Price (and not at the current subsidized price). For all other consumers, the regulated price under Supreme Decree No. 5516 (as amended by Supreme Decree No. 5652) remains unchanged.
Scope and Application
The Reference Price will apply to individuals and legal entities registered and authorized by the National Hydrocarbons Agency and, where applicable, by the General Directorate of Controlled Substances, under any of the following categories:
- Direct User: Purchases more than 120 and up to 5,000 liters per month for own consumption, from service stations.
- Direct Client: Purchases more than 5,000 and up to 19,999 liters per month for own consumption, from storage plants.
- Large Consumer: Purchases 20,000 liters per month or more, exclusively for own consumption, from storage plants.
Consumers who are not registered as Direct Users, Direct Clients, or Large Consumers will continue to be subject to the final prices regulated by Supreme Decrees No. 5516 and No. 5652.
Initial Reference Price
- Until the Regulatory Authority publishes the price under the new methodology, an Initial Reference Price of Bs. 18.00/liter, VAT included, will apply.
- Until Service Stations and Sales Points update their invoicing systems (within 2 business days), Direct Users may only obtain supply from YPFB and/or YPFB Logística S.A. storage plants, at the Initial Reference Price.
Implementation
- The Reference Price will be calculated based on import costs and applicable taxes on diesel sales.
- The Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy must approve the methodology by Ministerial Resolution within 5 business days of the Decree’s publication; the Regulatory Authority then has 5 additional business days, from notification of that Resolution, to issue the corresponding Administrative Resolution.
- Once the methodology is approved, the Regulatory Authority will publish the daily diesel Reference Price on its institutional website.
- YPFB has 5 business days to define the procedure, deadlines, and conditions for collecting the differential between the Reference Price and the wholesale price under Supreme Decree No. 5516, arising from sales to Direct Users.
- The new scheme applies specifically to diesel sourced from YPFB. The import and sale of diesel by private individuals or legal entities continues to be subject to market prices, in accordance with Supreme Decree No. 5644.
Additional Tariff Benefit
The Decree reduces to 0% the Customs Duty, until December 31, 2027, on the import of unleaded gasoline (subheadings under heading 27.10), thereby reducing the import cost of this product in parallel with the measure on diesel.
