Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Online Merchants Face Rising Fraud Rates as AI Tools Lower Attack Costs

    Online Merchants Face Rising Fraud Rates as AI Tools Lower Attack Costs

    Retailers face rising fraud losses as bad actors deploy low-cost artificial intelligence tools at scale, according to global payment processor Worldpay. A survey of 1,466 payment specialists across major markets including Australia shows fraud as a percentage of merchant revenue is climbing.

    The shift leaves digital store operators fighting automated attacks at checkout while trying to prevent unnecessary transaction rejections that destroy legitimate sales. Traditional card-not-present theft remains common, but pressure is shifting rapidly towards bot-driven credential stuffing, account takeovers, and refund abuse.

    The Cost of False Declines

    Rejecting good customer transactions out of caution carries a steep penalty. When checkout software incorrectly blocks a legitimate shopper, merchants lose both the immediate basket and the customer acquisition cost spent bringing that buyer through the sales funnel.

    Colin Baines, vice president of commercial and country manager at Worldpay, said false declines act as a silent drag on merchant margins. Using risk-based authentication backed by device intelligence and behavioral analytics allows retailers to challenge suspicious orders without adding friction to trusted buyers.

    Optimizing payment routing improves conversion. Implementing network tokenization, managing card credentials across their lifecycle, and configuring soft-decline retry schedules give merchants measurable lifts in completed orders across domestic card networks.

    Cross-Border Payment Routing

    Cross-border expansion introduces friction when checkouts fail to support local acquiring banks or domestic payment preferences. Presenting buyers with unfamiliar currencies, foreign checkout flows, or rigid 3D Secure rules increases cart abandonment.

    For retailers trading across Asia-Pacific markets, pairing stored network tokens with domestic acquiring infrastructure lifts card acceptance rates and cuts interchange processing expenses. Baines said store operators must treat payment routing and compliance as active components of their commercial strategy rather than administrative checkout settings.

  • China August NEV Retail Sales Hit 1.04 Million as Market Share Reaches 65.8%

    China August NEV Retail Sales Hit 1.04 Million as Market Share Reaches 65.8%

    China’s passenger new energy vehicle retail sales will reach approximately 1.04 million units in August, rising 9.4 per cent from July, the China Passenger Car Association said on Friday.

    The projected rebound lifts new energy vehicle retail penetration to a record 65.8 per cent, up from 65.1 per cent the previous month. Total passenger vehicle retail deliveries are expected to reach 1.58 million units for the month, an 8.1 per cent month-on-month rise that still represents a 21.7 per cent drop compared with August 2025.

    Chengdu Auto Show Drives Volume

    Extreme weather and planned summer plant maintenance slowed showroom traffic in early August, pulling average daily retail volume down to 35,000 units during the first week. Deliveries recovered as typhoons cleared coastal provinces and carmakers rolled out new product campaigns ahead of the Chengdu Auto Show. Daily transactions are projected to reach 77,000 units in the final week of August.

    The divergent performance between powertrains widened through the summer. Retail sales of petrol-powered passenger vehicles fell 40.5 per cent year on year in July to 510,000 units, while electrified models fell 3.9 per cent to 951,000 units over the same period.

    Big-Ticket Spending Faces Drag

    Automotive retail remains the heaviest drag on Chinese consumer spending. Total retail sales of consumer goods across China rose 2.6 per cent year on year during the first seven months of 2026, yet automotive retail revenue shrank 13.2 per cent over the same period.

    For retailers and dealership groups across the region, these numbers confirm that volume growth is now entirely hostage to electrification and replacement subsidies. Pure internal combustion inventory has become a liability on dealer balance sheets, forcing legacy showroom networks into aggressive discounting or outright closure as floor space pivots toward plug-in hybrids and battery-electric models.

    Automakers now face the September-October peak buying season with fresh order books opened at Chengdu, where full-month delivery tallies will show whether state trade-in incentives can offset persistent consumer caution.

  • Parent Hax Secures Coles Distribution for Rinse-Free Washcloth

    Parent Hax Secures Coles Distribution for Rinse-Free Washcloth

    Melbourne startup Parent Hax has secured national retail distribution with supermarket chain Coles for Top N Tail, its rinse-free washcloth priced at $15 for a 20-pack.

    The listing gives the young Australian brand immediate nationwide physical reach across one of the country’s two dominant grocery networks.

    Plant-based formulation targeting bath alternatives

    Top N Tail is formulated with plant-based cleansers, glycerin, aloe and chamomile. Unlike standard baby wipes designed for spot cleaning, the cloth is self-foaming and built for full-body cleansing without requiring water rinsing afterwards.

    Parent Hax engineered the item to bridge the gap between quick wet wipes and full tub baths, targeting parents seeking faster hygiene routines. The product cleans deeply enough to replace an evening wash while cutting down bath preparation and cleanup time.

    Supermarket baby care competition

    Supermarket baby aisles across Australia have traditionally belonged to multinational incumbents selling standard wet wipes and liquid soaps. Coles and rival Woolworths have steadily allocated shelf space to local independent brands offering premium or plant-derived formulations that command higher retail price points.

    Parent Hax enters this category at a per-unit premium compared to conventional baby wipes, betting that convenience and reduced water use justify the $15 shelf price. Initial sales performance across Coles stores will determine whether the startup can expand the range into additional personal care formats.

  • Oz Hair and Beauty Discloses Customer Data Breach Across Order Platform

    Oz Hair and Beauty Discloses Customer Data Breach Across Order Platform

    Oz Hair and Beauty has suffered a cyber incident on its online purchasing platform. The breach exposed the personal details and transaction histories of customers who placed orders before August.

    An unauthorised third party gained brief access to data managed through an external service provider. The Australian e-commerce merchant disclosed the incident to shoppers in a direct notification.

    Exposed records include full names, email addresses, mobile numbers, and purchase details showing total spend, currency, city, state, and postcode. Attackers did not obtain passwords, credit card numbers, payment details, or street addresses, the company stated.

    Third-Party Platform Compromise

    External technical specialists launched an investigation immediately after staff detected the intrusion. Early findings point to data held by a contractor rather than a direct breach of internal systems.

    Oz Hair and Beauty has not disclosed the total number of affected customer accounts. It reported the incident to the Australian Cyber Security Centre and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner while notifying affected buyers.

    Earlier this month, a separate cyber attack hit furniture retailer Nick Scali and forced core IT infrastructure offline across its regional business. Australian consumer brands face tightening scrutiny over vendor data storage as regulators press merchants to shorten retention schedules.

    Security Audit Underway

    The beauty retailer is now overhauling its data protection controls and third-party storage policies to prevent repeat exposures across its digital channels.

    Technical investigators are still determining the full timeline of the intrusion. The retailer has yet to submit its final incident report to federal privacy regulators.

  • Pagcor Fines Gambling Firm P1 Million over Ivana Alawi iPhone Promotion

    Pagcor Fines Gambling Firm P1 Million over Ivana Alawi iPhone Promotion

    Philippine gaming regulator Pagcor fined an online gambling operator 1 million pesos ($17,700) for running an unapproved 100-unit iPhone giveaway with celebrity influencer Ivana Alawi.

    The social media promotion involved 4.28 million pesos worth of iPhone 17 Pro Max handsets distributed across Alawi’s digital channels in July without regulatory clearance. Prospective winners had to follow her affiliated gaming group and leave comments on promotional posts to enter the draw.

    Unauthorised Promotions Draw Scrutiny

    Pagcor chairman and chief executive Alejandro Tengco disclosed the financial penalty during a 2027 House of Representatives budget hearing in Manila. Lawmakers raised concerns after Kamanggagawa party-list Representative Elijah Fernando questioned the expanding marketing ties between digital influencers and gambling operators.

    Alawi maintains an official brand ambassadorship with online operator Casino Plus. Tengco confirmed the fine was accompanied by an explicit warning that repeat infractions would trigger license suspensions and outright cancellations.

    Enforcement Across Digital Platforms

    Regulators estimate that illegal operators make up roughly 50 per cent of the country’s online gaming ecosystem, operating beyond state oversight and consumer protection rules. Pagcor works alongside the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission, and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center to pursue cases against unlicensed platforms and their celebrity endorsers.

    For consumer brands and digital marketing agencies across Southeast Asia, the action shows tighter oversight of influencer-led giveaways and promotional sweepstakes. Regulators in Manila now require promotional campaigns tied to licensed gaming entities to secure prior clearances from both Pagcor and the Ad Standards Council.

    Several content creators have cancelled promotional contracts with unlicensed gambling entities following the initial enforcement drive. State agencies are preparing further takedown requests and legal filings against operators that continue running unregistered social promotions.

  • Endeavour Group Earnings Fall 8.7% as Retail Price Cuts Hit Margins

    Endeavour Group Earnings Fall 8.7% as Retail Price Cuts Hit Margins

    Australia’s Endeavour Group posted an 8.7 per cent drop in underlying earnings to $845 million after aggressive price discounting across its retail bottle shop network squeezed operating margins.

    Total sales edged up 1.3 per cent to $12.2 billion, demonstrating that sharper shelf pricing succeeded in defending retail volumes even as profit yields contracted.

    Trading profit for volume

    The liquor and hospitality operator chose to sacrifice margins to protect foot traffic at Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores. Discretionary spending among Australian shoppers remained constrained, prompting the group to sharpen shelf pricing on core beverage lines.

    “Sales momentum in retail is building with customers responding positively to our renewed focus on value and price leadership,” said managing director and chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka.

    Supermarket rivals intensify price war

    Major grocery and liquor merchants across Australasia face identical margin pressure as household budgets tighten. Competing retail conglomerates have poured cash into promotional programs and private-label alternatives to stop shoppers from migrating to discount banners, accepting compressed margins to defend market share.

    Investors now await trading updates across the peak spring and summer beverage calendar to see whether customer volume gains can outpace sustained promotional costs.

  • Kogan Group Gross Sales Pass $1 Billion as Core E-Commerce Offsets Mighty Ape Loss

    Kogan Group Gross Sales Pass $1 Billion as Core E-Commerce Offsets Mighty Ape Loss

    Kogan Group lifted annual gross sales past $1 billion in the year ended June 30, driven by double-digit expansion across its core Australian e-commerce platform.

    Group revenue rose 5 per cent to $510 million, while statutory net profit after tax reached $11.2 million. The result masked a sharp divergence between the company’s flagship Australian portal and its struggling New Zealand subsidiary.

    The main Kogan.com business expanded gross sales and revenue by 16 per cent during the period, delivering $16.3 million in net profit. Management credited internal automation and AI-driven processes with lowering operational expenses, freeing cash to reinvest in customer marketing while defending profit margins.

    Restructuring the New Zealand Arm

    Mighty Ape remained a drag on bottom-line earnings, posting a $5.1 million net loss. Gross sales at the Auckland-headquartered online retailer fell 14 per cent, while annual revenue dropped 30 per cent as the group dismantled unprofitable operations.

    To stem the losses, management halved inventory from $21 million to $10 million and shuttered its Christchurch fulfillment center. Those reductions lowered quarterly fixed operating costs from $4.9 million to $3.4 million, pushing Mighty Ape into positive adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter.

    Higher-margin digital services cushioned the hardware contraction. Paid subscriptions via Primate, marketplace commissions, and the Mighty Mobile telecommunications service all expanded their share of the subsidiary’s total top line.

    Marketplace Shift Across Australasia

    The split performance mirrors a broader transformation across Australasian e-commerce, where pure-play retailers have moved away from holding heavy direct inventory to rely on third-party marketplace commissions and automated logistics. RetailNews Asia has tracked similar inventory purges at competing digital platforms seeking to protect gross margins against stubborn freight and handling costs.

    Group management confirmed it will maintain strict capital discipline across both divisions entering fiscal 2027, with full-year performance hinging on whether Mighty Ape can convert its fourth-quarter operating stability into sustained annual profit.

  • France Prepares Saudi-Backed Deal for Japanese Dragon Ball Theme Park

    France Prepares Saudi-Backed Deal for Japanese Dragon Ball Theme Park

    French regional authorities are preparing to sign an agreement with Saudi investors to construct a massive amusement park based on Japan’s iconic Dragon Ball franchise.

    The project targets a development footprint comparable to Disneyland Paris, backed by capital from a Saudi investment company.

    Valerie Pecresse, head of the Ile-de-France regional government, confirmed that French officials spent 18 months structuring the proposal ahead of bilateral talks in Paris. Talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Elysee Palace anchored the negotiations, with the entertainment park forming part of a broader package of commercial accords.

    Site selection northwest of Paris

    Plans for the venue point to Courdimanche, a municipality northwest of the French capital. While officials have not disclosed total capital expenditure, the scale required to match major European destination parks typically demands billions of euros in infrastructure, ride engineering, and hospitality real estate.

    Licensing Japanese intellectual property for overseas locations has accelerated across the entertainment industry. Bandai Namco and affiliated Japanese rights holders have increasingly monetised manga and anime catalogues through physical retail, location-based entertainment, and global tourist hubs.

    Sovereign capital and Japanese entertainment assets

    Gulf investment entities continue to funnel capital into global media and interactive entertainment properties, diversifying state portfolios away from hydrocarbons. Saudi Arabia previously announced its own dedicated Dragon Ball park at the Qiddiya development project outside Riyadh, illustrating a focused campaign to secure long-term rights around Japanese pop culture brands.

    European operators face shifting consumer demand as audiences seek immersive, single-franchise destinations over traditional mixed-attraction venues. Commercial agreements spanning the site purchase, planning permits, and formal construction timelines remain subject to final sign-off following the bilateral summit.

  • Pop Mart Overseas Revenue Falls 11% as Labubu Toy Craze Cools

    Pop Mart Overseas Revenue Falls 11% as Labubu Toy Craze Cools

    Pop Mart International Group posted an 11.1 per cent decline in overseas revenue to RMB4.97 billion for the first half, hit by cooling international sales for its signature Labubu character.

    Shares in the Beijing-based toy maker fell more than 4 per cent in Hong Kong following the release, even as strong domestic sales lifted total group revenue 23.8 per cent to RMB17.17 billion ($2.55 billion). Profit attributable to shareholders rose 10.1 per cent to RMB5.04 billion, while operating profit gained 11.3 per cent. Revenue from Greater China jumped 47.3 per cent to RMB12.20 billion, now generating 71 per cent of group sales compared with 59.7 per cent a year earlier.

    Online sales slump outside China

    The international drop was sharpest across digital channels. Online sales fell 45.6 per cent in the Americas, 39.8 per cent in Asia Pacific excluding Greater China, and 59 per cent in Europe. The company’s own app and website sales in the Americas dropped 44.6 per cent.

    Physical stores showed resilience abroad. Offline sales grew 19.5 per cent in the Americas, 16.2 per cent in Asia Pacific, and 49.8 per cent in Europe. Yet store expansion failed to offset the online drop in the Americas, where regional sales fell 16.5 per cent despite the local store count jumping from 41 to 86 locations over the twelve-month period.

    Plush toys replaced vinyl figurines as Pop Mart’s primary sales driver, surging 60 per cent to RMB9.82 billion to account for 57.2 per cent of total turnover. Figurine sales remained flat with 0.3 per cent growth. Revenue from The Monsters series, which includes Labubu, contracted 7.5 per cent to RMB4.45 billion, marking its first recorded drop and shrinking its revenue share to 26 per cent. Twinkle Twinkle rose 580.6 per cent to RMB2.65 billion to become the second-largest intellectual property, while Crybaby, Dimoo, Skullpanda, and Hirono each surpassed the RMB1 billion mark.

    Rivals step up domestic pressure

    Domestic retail chains across Asia are accelerating their push into collectible toys to capitalize on the same customer demographic. Miniso has refiled to list its Top Toy business in Hong Kong, while rivals Kayou and 52Toys expand store networks across tier-one and tier-two Chinese cities. Frost & Sullivan projects China’s collectible toy market will reach RMB110 billion this year.

    Pop Mart is diversifying into location-based entertainment and hospitality through its Pop Land theme park, Pop Bakery food outlets, and a live-action Labubu feature film developed with Sony Pictures. Chief executive Wang Ning stated the company may fall short of its full-year 20 per cent revenue growth target as management executes operational adjustments across international distribution networks.

  • Luxury Evermore Flags Cloned Chanel Serial Code Found 127 Times Across 36 Countries

    Luxury Evermore Flags Cloned Chanel Serial Code Found 127 Times Across 36 Countries

    Singapore resale platform Luxury Evermore found a single Chanel serial code repeated 127 times across 36 countries in its authentication database, exposing widespread counterfeit production.

    The code, 10218184, showed up on multiple bag models submitted to the firm’s free authentication screening tool, directly contradicting the brand’s rule that each code belongs to one specific bag.

    Database Flags Cloned Code

    Submissions came through Luxury Evermore’s consumer review service, which screens pre-owned luxury items to weed out fakes in the secondary market. Counterfeiters routinely duplicate legitimate serial strings because they lack access to internal luxury brand databases.

    “There are specific patterns and details on these tags that are very difficult to replicate,” Luxury Evermore founder Mingchuan Tian said. The company noted that while a single code match does not automatically prove a bag is fake, any pre-owned piece bearing the 10218184 string requires physical inspection before purchase.

    Shift to Microchip Authentication

    Chanel changed its authentication architecture in 2021, replacing physical authenticity cards and interior sticker tags with embedded microchips and metal plaques. Bags made before that transition remain heavily traded across Asian consignment platforms, leaving older serial numbers exposed to industrial-scale cloning.

    Secondary luxury platforms across Southeast Asia and East Asia face rising costs as authentication moves from simple serial checks to multi-point material inspections. As counterfeit operations replicate physical tags across multiple product lines, resale operators are tightening screening protocols on legacy inventory to protect platform credibility.

    Resellers tracking the 10218184 code are now screening pre-2021 inventory for matching batch anomalies across regional intake hubs.

  • BioCheese Launches Protein-Fortified Vegan Cheddar at Coles for $9

    BioCheese Launches Protein-Fortified Vegan Cheddar at Coles for $9

    BioCheese has launched a protein-fortified plant-based cheddar shred across Australian supermarket chain Coles, priced at $9 for a 200-gram pack.

    The product delivers 10 grams of protein per 100 grams, making it the first added-protein dairy-free cheese stocked in Australian grocery aisles.

    Pea Protein and Melting Performance

    Formulated with pea protein, the shredded cheese is built specifically for hot and cold culinary applications. The brand designed the shred to melt in toasties and baked dishes while holding texture in tacos and salads.

    Each unit ships in a resealable 200-gram pouch intended for standard refrigerated dairy and plant-based sections across Coles supermarkets nationally.

    Protein Claims in Plant Dairy

    Plant-based cheese alternatives have historically faced pushback from shoppers over low nutritional value compared to traditional dairy cheddar. While standard dairy cheese provides around 25 grams of protein per 100 grams, standard coconut oil and starch-based alternatives often register near zero.

    By adding 10 grams of functional plant protein, BioCheese is testing whether enhanced nutritional metrics can defend premium shelf space as price-conscious shoppers scrutinise grocery spending across the Asia-Pacific region.

    Distribution is now live across Coles stores, with retail buyers watching whether the $9 price point can sustain regular basket repeat rates against traditional dairy blocks.

  • Borsalino Opens First China Boutique at Shanghai Plaza 66

    Borsalino Opens First China Boutique at Shanghai Plaza 66

    Borsalino opened its first permanent boutique in mainland China at Shanghai’s Plaza 66, launching the 170-year-old Italian luxury hatmaker’s direct retail presence in the country.

    The Shanghai debut anchors the company’s broader expansion push across Greater China and key international retail destinations.

    Mauro Baglietto, managing director of Borsalino, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside Alec Hou, chief executive of Essence Group, joined by representatives from the Italian government and Plaza 66 leasing management. To accompany the launch, the brand unveiled a limited-edition jewellery collection featuring a Fedora finished with an 18-carat gold logo set with rubies, sapphires and diamonds.

    Heritage and Pop-Up Operations

    Plaza 66 hosted a Borsalino pop-up installation from 22 to 27 August to support the boutique opening. The temporary space showed archival vintage headwear, demonstrations of Italian millinery craft, and bespoke personalisation services for local shoppers.

    Giuseppe Borsalino established the company in Alessandria, Italy, in 1857, making it the country’s oldest operating luxury hatmaker. The business currently pairs its own-brand boutiques and wholesale accounts with global distribution networks, fashion collaborations and film-industry styling partnerships.

    Niche Luxury in Prime Retail Malls

    Heritage European craft houses continue to seek dedicated real estate across top-tier Chinese commercial centers to engage high-net-worth buyers directly rather than relying solely on multi-brand stockists. Placing a standalone store inside Plaza 66 gives Borsalino immediate access to Shanghai’s most concentrated luxury customer base.

    The next metric to watch is whether Essence Group and Borsalino follow this flagship opening with additional retail leases in secondary luxury hubs such as Beijing and Chengdu.

  • Noumi Revenue Climbs 8.8 Percent to $648.4 Million on Dairy Demand

    Noumi Revenue Climbs 8.8 Percent to $648.4 Million on Dairy Demand

    Noumi grew full-year revenue 8.8 per cent to $648.4 million for the twelve months ended June 30, led by gains in its dairy and nutritionals division.

    Adjusted operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose 7.6 per cent to $61.8 million, up from the prior corresponding period.

    Earnings improve despite shipping drag

    The Sydney-listed maker of MilkLab absorbed an estimated $2 million hit to second-half operating EBITDA caused by trade disruptions linked to conflict in the Middle East. Statutory net loss after tax narrowed 55.2 per cent to $67.2 million as legacy liabilities and exceptional costs receded.

    Operational gains came largely from higher processing volumes across dairy and plant-based beverage lines. Factory throughput remained steady across packaging facilities, offsetting higher ingredient costs with targeted wholesale price adjustments in key commercial accounts.

    Regional cafe demand supports volume

    Plant-based beverage suppliers across Asia-Pacific have faced stiff competition from local co-packers and expanding oat milk capacity. Noumi has leaned on barista-grade distribution across Southeast Asian coffee chains to protect margins that grocery private-label contracts often erode.

    Investors are tracking Noumi’s upcoming annual general meeting for detailed export segment breakdowns and full-year capital expenditure plans.

  • Chinese AI and Chip Makers Hand Millions in Stock to Lock Down Staff

    Chinese AI and Chip Makers Hand Millions in Stock to Lock Down Staff

    Chinese artificial intelligence and semiconductor firms are granting stock awards worth millions of dollars to staff across entire workforces to halt talent poaching.

    Chip designer Cambricon Technologies unlocked nearly 600,000 shares for 124 core staff, delivering an average payout of 5.57 million yuan (US$828,000) per employee. The Shanghai-listed company also launched a 5 million share scheme covering 944 workers through 2028, representing 85.3 per cent of its total payroll.

    Hardware Giants Expand Workforce Coverage

    Zhongji InnoLight, which makes optical transceivers for AI data centres, allocated 2.48 million shares across 99 key personnel in its latest vesting cycle. Based on April market pricing, that distribution yielded an average of more than 26 million yuan per recipient.

    Equipment manufacturer Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment China widened access further. Its March restricted share programme enrolled more than 97 per cent of its workforce. GPU maker Moore Threads followed in April by assigning 1,080 employees, roughly 85 per cent of its headcount, into its equity pool. At memory producer ChangXin Memory Technologies, founder Zhu Yiming pledged 768 million shares, half his partnership stake, to fund a decade-long employee pool while excluding himself from payouts.

    Zero Targets and Pre-IPO Payouts

    AI model developers are structuring payouts with fewer performance hurdles. Hong Kong-listed MiniMax issued 1.16 million zero-cost shares in June to core personnel, tying vesting schedules solely to tenure rather than operational benchmarks. Rival developer Zhipu AI allocated a 9.8 per cent post-listing stake across 426 staff through an internal platform, yielding an average holding value exceeding HK$100 million per person.

    Big Tech platforms are stepping up their own programmes to match startup offers. Tencent Holdings granted more than 38.6 million shares under its employee scheme, representing 0.42 per cent of its issued equity, as Alibaba Group Holding, Baidu, Meituan and Xiaomi rework compensation packages.

    The scale of these handouts reflects how quickly technical headcount costs have risen across mainland China. Where earlier stock plans favoured senior directors, current programmes distribute equity down to floor engineers to insulate operations from overseas recruitment drives and venture-backed rivals.

    Market watchers are now monitoring upcoming interim financial filings to track the share dilution costs from these multi-year vesting programmes.

  • Philippine Fuel Retailers Raise Diesel by P2.31 per Liter

    Philippine Fuel Retailers Raise Diesel by P2.31 per Liter

    Philippine fuel retailers will raise pump prices on August 25, adding P2.31 per liter to diesel and P1.08 per liter to gasoline.

    The adjustment extends a second consecutive week of increases across Metro Manila and provincial networks, following a sharp rise on August 18 when diesel jumped P3.84 and gasoline gained P2.49. Kerosene will also climb by P0.95 per liter for the week of August 25 to 31, according to Department of Energy pricing data.

    What Drives the Regional Surge

    Dubai crude climbed roughly $8.90 per barrel during trading between August 10 and 14, driving refined product benchmarks higher across Asia. International diesel prices climbed $11.40 per barrel over the same period, while international gasoline rose $6.50 per barrel.

    Shipping constraints through the Strait of Hormuz contributed to the tighter supply outlook. Tanker transits through the passage dropped from 17 vessels on August 10 to 16 on August 11, reflecting persistent friction between Iranian and US-Israeli forces.

    Transport Costs and Supply Chains

    Rising pump prices squeeze operating margins for regional delivery fleets and retail logistics networks across the archipelago. The Philippines imports almost all of its fuel requirements, making freight and retail transport immediately sensitive to movements in global oil benchmarks and foreign exchange rates.

    Current retail levels sit well above baseline figures recorded in February. Prior to the escalation in Middle East maritime disputes, common retail prices in Metro Manila stood at P55.00 per liter for diesel and P56.00 per liter for RON95 gasoline.

    Russia also maintained its export ban on diesel during the August trading cycle, limiting replacement cargoes for Asian buyers and keeping regional diesel prices firm.

    Energy authorities will monitor crude throughput and tanker traffic through the Persian Gulf during the next trading window to assess adjustments for the first week of September.