Panama fuel price forecast
For the bulletin of September 18, 2026 we estimate gasoline 91 will stay close to B/.1.215 per liter. Correlation model with US Gulf Coast prices (EIA), high confidence.
Gasoline 95
$1.287/L
+0.8 ¢vs. current price
today $1.279 per liter
Gasoline 91
$1.215/L
+2.1 ¢vs. current price
today $1.194 per liter
Diesel
$1.387/L
-1.3 ¢vs. current price
today $1.400 per liter
Expected price per liter, Zone 1, for the bulletin of September 18, 2026. Computed on September 8, 2026.
Fill up now or wait?
No rush: the price will barely move
The model projects gasoline 91 at B/.1.215/L on September 18, 2026, virtually the same as today's B/.1.194. Fill up whenever convenient.
The official price is confirmed by the SNE in its bulletin. This forecast is an independent estimate.
How we calculate the forecast
An ordinary least squares (OLS) model calibrated on confirmed SNE bulletins and weekly EIA prices.
Mean error
±3.3¢/L
calibration Sep 8 2026
Calibrated periods
24
SNE bulletins
R² gasoline
0.791
R² diesel 0.941
- 01
Reference data: EIA
Every Monday the Energy Information Administration publishes retail prices for regular, premium and diesel on the US Gulf Coast. Panama imports refined fuel from that region, so they are the best available predictor of the SNE price.
- 02
Empirical correlation
We compare EIA prices with each confirmed SNE bulletin and fit the coefficients by regression. Gasoline uses a bivariate model (regular plus the premium spread); diesel a univariate one.
- 03
Applied formula
We apply the coefficients to the latest EIA week and convert from dollars per gallon to balboas per liter, rounding to three decimals like the SNE.
Formula
- 95 (B/./L) = (1.2753 × EIA regular + 6.1543 × (EIA premium - EIA regular) - 5.0858) ÷ 3.785
- 91 (B/./L) = 95 × 0.9443
- Diesel (B/./L) = (1.0410 × EIA diesel - 0.3307) ÷ 3.785
- 04
Limitations
- The SNE uses wholesale (spot) prices that are not public; we use EIA retail with an empirical correction.
- The SNE's exact reference window is not published; we estimate about ten business days before the bulletin.
- Policy changes (margins, taxes) and local events cannot be predicted with an international price model.
- The model improves with every confirmed bulletin.
EIA reference data
Weekly retail prices on the US Gulf Coast, dollars per gallon.
| Week | Regular ($/gal) | Premium ($/gal) | Diesel ($/gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 2026Reference | 3.618 | 4.486 | 5.360 |
| Aug 24 2026 | 3.638 | 4.493 | 5.481 |
| Aug 17 2026 | 3.622 | 4.496 | 5.237 |
| Aug 10 2026 | 3.543 | 4.419 | 5.044 |
| Aug 3 2026 | 3.604 | 4.460 | 5.141 |
| Jul 27 2026 | 3.690 | 4.544 | 5.087 |
| Jul 20 2026 | 3.588 | 4.451 | 4.942 |
| Jul 13 2026 | 3.423 | 4.289 | 4.546 |
- Aug 31 2026Reference
- Regular ($/gal)
- 3.618
- Premium ($/gal)
- 4.486
- Diesel ($/gal)
- 5.360
- Aug 24 2026
- Regular ($/gal)
- 3.638
- Premium ($/gal)
- 4.493
- Diesel ($/gal)
- 5.481
- Aug 17 2026
- Regular ($/gal)
- 3.622
- Premium ($/gal)
- 4.496
- Diesel ($/gal)
- 5.237
- Aug 10 2026
- Regular ($/gal)
- 3.543
- Premium ($/gal)
- 4.419
- Diesel ($/gal)
- 5.044
- Aug 3 2026
- Regular ($/gal)
- 3.604
- Premium ($/gal)
- 4.460
- Diesel ($/gal)
- 5.141
- Jul 27 2026
- Regular ($/gal)
- 3.690
- Premium ($/gal)
- 4.544
- Diesel ($/gal)
- 5.087
- Jul 20 2026
- Regular ($/gal)
- 3.588
- Premium ($/gal)
- 4.451
- Diesel ($/gal)
- 4.942
- Jul 13 2026
- Regular ($/gal)
- 3.423
- Premium ($/gal)
- 4.289
- Diesel ($/gal)
- 4.546
Verified Aug 31, 2026· source: EIA
The first row is the week used for this forecast.Hits and misses
Each forecast is compared with the price the SNE confirmed afterwards. An error under 2 cents counts as a hit.
| SNE bulletin | Forecast 95 | Actual 95 | Error 95 | Forecast diesel | Actual diesel | Error diesel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2026 | 1.250 | 1.271 | 0.021Miss | 1.378 | 1.273 | 0.105Miss |
| April 17, 2026 | 1.250 | 1.231 | 0.019Hit | 1.378 | 1.368 | 0.010Hit |
- May 1, 2026
- Forecast 95
- 1.250
- Actual 95
- 1.271
- Error 95
- 0.021Miss
- Forecast diesel
- 1.378
- Actual diesel
- 1.273
- Error diesel
- 0.105Miss
- April 17, 2026
- Forecast 95
- 1.250
- Actual 95
- 1.231
- Error 95
- 0.019Hit
- Forecast diesel
- 1.378
- Actual diesel
- 1.368
- Error diesel
- 0.010Hit
Data sources
SNE Panama
OfficialOfficial maximum prices, bulletin every 14 days
www.energia.gob.paEIA (US Department of Energy)
WeeklyWeekly Gulf Coast retail prices
www.eia.govNYMEX / CME
ReferenceRBOB and ULSD futures, leading reference indicator
www.cmegroup.com
Forecast questions
What will gasoline cost in Panama in the next bulletin?
When is the best time to fill up?
How far ahead is the forecast published?
How accurate was the last forecast?
What is WTI and how does it affect Panama gas prices?
Why does the model say stable if WTI went up?
Why EIA prices instead of RBOB or ULSD directly?
How accurate is the model?
Can the price change without any movement in the US?
How do I get the forecast?
Today's prices
Gasoline 95, gasoline 91 and diesel with the change versus the previous period, zone table and tank calculator.