Motorists in Jamaica are facing another broad round of fuel price increases starting Thursday, as the state-owned refinery Petrojam continues to pass on rising costs to consumers.
The billing price for 87-octane gasoline has climbed 37% since the start of the year, reflecting persistent upward pressure on ex-refinery costs for both gasoline and diesel.
This latest adjustment follows a significant price hike announced in early July, which had already signaled the ongoing strain on local fuel affordability.
The sharp year-to-date increase underscores the vulnerability of small island economies to global energy market volatility.
As Petrojam adjusts its billing prices, the cumulative effect on transportation and logistics costs is likely to feed into broader inflationary pressures across the economy.
Consumers have already absorbed multiple rounds of increases this year, with the latest move adding to the financial burden on households and businesses reliant on road transport.