Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Dec. 30 / Trend D. Azizov /
The tax rate on the consumption of petrol, diesel fuel and natural gas for vehicles will rise by 30 soums, reaching up to 175 soums per liter of fuel from the current 145 soums in Uzbekistan from Jan. 1, 2011.
The new rates were approved by the Uzbek president's decree "Forecast of key macroeconomic indicators and parameters of the Uzbek state budget for 2011".
During 2010, petrol prices increased three times in Uzbekistan. On Jan. 1, 2010, the fuel prices increased as a result of a hike in taxed on motor fuel consumption with an addition of 25 soums.
In July, petrol prices were increased by nearly 15 percent, and at the same rate in December. From Dec. 10, the retail price on one liter of petrol AI-80, taking into account the consumption tax in Uzbekistan is 1,405 sums, while AI-91 is priced at 1,555 soums and AI-95 at 1,725 soums.
In 2009, the retail price on one liter of petrol AI-80 was 1,040 soums, while AI-91 cost 1,150 soums and AI-95 cost 1,275 soums, with no change in prices throughout the year.
In 2009, petrol production in Uzbekistan increased by 10.8 percent, reaching up to 1.622 million tons, kerosene by 12.2 percent up to 405.700 tons and diesel fuel by 1.2 percent up to 1.302 million tons.
During Jan.-Sept. 2010, petrol production reduced by 11 percent coming down to 1.067 million tons, kerosene by 9.2 percent coming down to 272.500 tons, while diesel fuel decreased by 13.8 percent coming down to 855.100 tons.
At present, the number of vehicles in Uzbekistan exceeds 1.6 million.