業者們並不反對目前實施的每周頂價措施，只是認為價格趨勢可以「更健康」，他們希望每周價格變動以不超過5仙為宜，這樣可以穩定市場，舒緩收益或者虧損。
隨著政府實施每周燃油頂價制度，加上頂價連續跌價，本周已經是連續第5個星期跌價，國內許多油站業者都大呼無法再承受油價下跌導致的虧損，希望政府能夠出手相助止虧。
全國一共有3500家油站，但自從政府取消燃油津貼，並實施油價浮動措施，許多業者開始面臨經營上的困難。據知，2014年開始實施每月頂價制度時，就有30至40家油站結業，今年實施每周頂價制度後，有更多業者跟著無法支撐而結業，2年來已經有80家倒閉。油站業擔心油價再跌結業潮將持續。
油站倒閉的原因包括最低薪金制、電費負擔重、須承擔1%信用卡費用、油站業者抽傭偏低，以及油價下跌需要承擔虧損等。
其中油價屢屢下跌導致業者以虧本價錢售出庫存燃油。一般上，油站存有應付10天的油量，每周頂價制度下，業者無法在每周頂價公布前售完庫存油量，特別是銷量低但庫存高的RON97汽油和柴油。石油商公會預測一些業者每周虧損至少3000至5000令吉。
基於面對經營困境，油站陸續倒閉對經濟市場不利，石油商公會呼籲政府允許業者可以按照庫存量自行決定購買多少燃油，以免庫存過多。油價下跌業者庫存多而虧損，油價上漲也未必有利，因為消費者在掌握油價後會爭先在漲價前添油，業者同樣無賺頭。
公會亦有一建議，即跟隨國外的做法，政府在公布頂價前兩天預先通知業者，以便業者能夠與石油生產商爭取更好的價格。
此外，公會同時希望石油公司可以提高給予業者的佣金。石油公司對油站業者提供的盈利是以抽傭計，1公升柴油僅得7仙盈利，每公升汽油則有21.19仙。
在經營成本增加下，一些油站無法達致收支平衡，此消彼長下，業者每公升燃油盈利僅得1.2仙。業者希望自2008年來就未檢討的佣金可以因應成本的高漲獲得調整。
業者們並不反對目前實施的每周頂價措施，只是認為價格趨勢可以「更健康」，他們希望每周價格變動以不超過5仙為宜，這樣可以穩定市場，舒緩收益或者虧損。業者們同時希望政府在實施任何新措施前，能夠與業界代表商討，以達到雙贏。
文章來源：
星洲日報/星·觀點·2017.06.30
The dilemma of fuel dealers
Following the introduction of weekly ceiling fuel pricing mechanism, coupled with the continuously falling retail prices — the fifth straight fall this week — many petrol dealers in the country are suffering losses, and they hope the government will do something to help them out of the current doldrums.
There are a total of 3,500 gas stations in the country, but since the government abolished fuel subsidies and implemented the weekly floating pricing policy, many of them begin to encounter difficulty in sustaining their businesses.
From what we know, since the monthly ceiling fuel pricing mechanism was introduced in 2014, some 30 to 40 petrol stations have wound up their businesses. With the implementation of weekly pricing, more are expected to go under. Some 80 petrol stations have already closed down during the last two years and the dealers are worried more will do so if fuel prices keep dropping.
Among the reasons for the closures are minimum wage scheme, rising energy cost, 1% credit card fee, low commissions and falling oil prices.
The falling fuel prices have forced dealers to sell their stock at below-cost rates. Generally, a petrol station will keep an inventory enough for ten days of supply. Under the weekly ceiling pricing system, there is no way for the dealers to finish the stock before the next announcement, especially for RON97 and diesel which are less marketable but are kept in relatively high stocks.
Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia has predicted that some operators may have to bear at least RM3,000 to RM5,000 in weekly losses.
PDAM has urged the government to allow dealers to decide on their own how much fuel they want to purchase in accordance with their own inventories in a bid to avert the problem of overstocking. If fuel prices continue to fall, petrol station owners will suffer losses due to excessive stock.
Similarly, they will not benefit even though fuel prices go up, because consumers will rush to fill up their tanks before the new prices go into effect.
PDAM has proposed to emulate the practice in some countries whereby the government would inform the operators two days before publishing the new ceiling prices so that they can negotiate more favorable prices with their suppliers.
In addition, PDAM also hopes fuel suppliers will raise the commissions for petrol dealers. The current commissions are seven cents for each liter of diesel and 21.19 cents for each liter of petrol.
Under the weight of rising operating cost, some of the petrol stations have been unable to break even in their businesses, with net profit at a mere 1.2 cents for every liter. They hope the commission structure in place since 2008 can be reviewed as a result of rising operating cost.
Petrol dealers are not wholly against the weekly ceiling pricing mechanism, but they hope the price trends could be a little “healthier” and that weekly retail price fluctuation is kept within five cents so as to stabilize the market and moderate any gain or loss.
Of course, they also hope that the government will consult the operators before implementing any new measure in future.