PT Pertamina (Persero) increased the price of non-PSO fuel on October 10, 2018. This step was taken in response to the increase in global Brent crude oil prices, which had risen above US$80/barrel. The price increase aimed to mitigate the losses incurred by the state-owned enterprise amidst rising oil prices and the weakening Indonesian Rupiah, which exceeded Rp 15,000 per US dollar.
Despite the price increase, Pertamina's fuel prices at Public Fuel Filling Stations (SPBU) remained lower than those at Total and Shell SPBUs. For example, Pertamax, with an octane rating (RON) of 92, was sold at Rp 10,400/liter. This was lower than the price of similar products at Total SPBUs, namely Performance 92 at Rp 10,500/liter, and Shell's Super 92 at Rp 10,550/liter. Similarly, Pertamax Turbo, with an octane rating of 95, was sold at Rp 12,250/liter, lower than Total's Performance 95 at Rp 12,350/liter and Shell's V-Power at Rp 12,450/liter. Shell SPBU fuel prices were higher than its competitors, as shown in the graph below.
Pertamina briefly raised the price of Premium to Rp 7,000/liter, but soon lowered it back to its previous price of Rp 6,550/liter. In the RON 88 class, Premium has no competitors. Vivo's Revvo, with an octane rating of 89, was sold at Rp 7,750/liter. Pertamina's Pertalite 92 remained at Rp 7,800/liter. Its competitors included Revvo 90 (Vivo) at Rp 8,650/liter, Performance 90 (Total) at Rp 9,800/liter, and Regular 90 (Shell) at Rp 9,900/liter.