In an industry first the Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association (ACAPMA) recently released at their National Conference and Expo the 2015 National Monitor of Fuel Consumer Attitudes.
With the Queensland Government currently considering legislation to introduce a biofuels mandate, and the New South Wales Government conducting a review of the existing biofuels legislation in place ACAPMA took the opportunity to gauge consumer sentiment for ethanol blended fuels.
In NSW 43% of consumers said that they would not purchase ethanol blended fuel (E10) for their vehicles compared to 45% who responded that they would be willing to purchase E10 for their cars.
ACAPMA CEO Mark McKenzie commented “This is a resounding vote of no confidence from consumers on both a state and national level.”
The latest results posted by the NSW Department of Fair Trading reflects that for the period 1 April 2015 to 30 Jun 2015 volume sellers in NSW reflects that ethanol only made up 2.91% of petrol sold in NSW, down .47% on the same period last year.
“When you also take into account that over the past 2 years we have seen the sale of ethanol blended fuels in NSW decrease by more than 20% it starts to hit home that consumers in NSW, and nationally, don’t want to purchase ethanol blended.”
“Sales of premium blend fuels in NSW are over 40% of all petrol grades sold”, McKenzie said, “This is almost double the national average of other states and shows that consumers are willing to pay 10 to 12 cents more per litre of fuel rather than purchase E10.”
Queensland consumers were reflected as being more hostile towards ethanol blended fuels, with only 28% of consumers surveyed saying they would be willing to purchase E10, while 1 in 2 said that they would not by ethanol blended fuel for their vehicles.
As outlined in ACAPMA’s Public Policies document, ACAPMA is against the implementation of mandates of any kind, which create a manipulation in market demand for any given product.
Click here to view / download a copy of ACAPMA’s 2015 National Monitor of Fuel Consumer Attitudes.
ACAPMA is committed to working with the NSW and Queensland Governments on their respective legislative agenda’s regarding alternative energy.
For more information on ACAPMA’s Advocacy programs please contact 1300 160 270 or email elishar@acapma.com.au.
