Live Updates > Live Update Details
2026-09-19 07:26:12
[Guatemalan Freight Industry Warns of High Fuel Prices' Impact on Food Prices] ⑴ Several freight associations held a press conference on Friday to express their stance on high fuel costs, stating that the food industry is the most severely affected. ⑵ They pointed out that diesel prices have been rising continuously since December 2025, although they briefly fell during the subsidy period. ⑶ Diesel prices at gas stations have exceeded 49 quechars, and may be even higher outside the capital. ⑷ Rising operating costs are being passed on to consumers, with food being the most affected. ⑸ The associations stated that high fuel prices have triggered a freight crisis, forcing businesses to seek funding to fulfill business commitments and purchase necessary vehicle supplies. ⑹ Diesel price increases exceed the ability of transport companies to absorb costs under existing commercial contracts, compressing the liquidity needed to maintain operations and ensure national supply. ⑺ They warned that diesel prices are rising faster than freight rates, and this imbalance harms transporters' interests, drives up business costs, and ultimately affects households and consumers. ⑻ According to data from the National Institute of Statistics, food and transportation saw the largest monthly price increases in August 2026. (9) Technical estimates by the industry in accordance with Decree No. 21-2026 show that 2.5 billion qchar could last for about 99.3 days if used only for diesel, but the coverage period would be significantly shortened if it included both regular and premium gasoline.
