AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life Living in Belize Controlled Price Of Butane Down, Down, Down

World oil prices have been going down - but the controlled price of Liquid Petroleum Gas - which we commonly call butane, has remained constant.

That is until tomorrow - when it takes a huge dive. The controlled price is going down by thirty dollars per hundred pound cylinder across the board! So, in Belize City where the price of a hundred pound cylinder is $126.00 dollars - that will now be $96.00 for basic butane.

For the high grade butane imported from Mexico - which currently sells for $133.00 dollars in the city - that price is going down to $103.00.

The agreement was reached today in a meeting between the Ministry of trade and the Butane importers. The Ministry demonstrated to them that acquisition prices have been trending down for some months - which allowed them to recover from the period when it was high. We understand a few hard words were exchanged but the meeting produced accord and the new slashed price goes into effect tomorrow.

Channel 7

Last night we told you about the sharp decrease in the controlled price of butane. We quoted prices sent out by the ministry of trade. Well, those prices were slightly off, but, no matter, you still get a 30 dollar decrease in price which took effect today.

In Belize City, the price for high grade Mexican Butane is now 104 dollars per hundred pound cyclinder - not 103, and the lower grade Central American Butane is 97 dollars, not 96 dollars.

Channel 7

The Ministry of Trade, Investment Promotion, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection negotiated a significant decrease in the retail price of Butane to the public. On Friday, June 20, 2012, the price of butane reduced by $30 per 100 pound cylinder.

In light of a general downward trend in the global market price for natural gas, the Ministry took proactive steps in engaging the suppliers, and it was determined that they were able to pass some of these accumulated savings to the consumers.

The new list for controlled butane prices:

District            Imported from Mexico        Imported from Central America
Belize                 $104                                  $97
Belmopan           $106                                  $99
San Ignacio        $106                                  $99
Benque              $107                                  $100
Orange Walk       $105                                  $98
Corozal               $104                                 $97
Dangriga             $108                                 $101
Punta Gorda        $109                                  $102

As for San Pedro the price for the 100lb cylinder of butane is currently at $135 (at E&L Butane) and $130 (at Gas Tomza). The change of price should be in effect by the end of this week here on the island.

This reduction resulted from a meeting on Thursday, July 19, 2012, between butane suppliers and representative from the Ministry of Trade, Investments, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection. In light of a general downward trend in the global market price for natural gas, the Ministry took proactive steps in engaging the suppliers, and it was determined that they were able to pass some of these accumulated savings to the consumers.

Other items discussed at the meeting included the new standards to be followed by Butane suppliers that will be implemented via SI by the end of August. These standards will govern many aspects of the Butane industry with a heavy focus on consumer safety and product quality, with the expected result being greater value for money for the consumer. During the meeting, the Ministry further reiterated that butane suppliers must continue to observe the legal requirement for use of weighing scales when selling butane.

The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Trade, Investment Promotion, Private Sector
Development and Consumer Protection, remains committed to reducing the cost of living to
Belizean consumers and will be engaging in similar meetings with vendors of basic commodities to ensure the best prices and service to the Belizean public.

For more information, please contact:

Belize Bureau of Standards
Phone: (501) 822-0446

or

Ministry of Trade, Investment Promotion, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection
Phone: (501) 822-0405