El Ciudadano
Original article: Kast, líder mundial de alzas: Chile es el país OCDE con el mayor aumento real en el precio de la gasolina
Chile Tops OECD Fuel Price Hike with 14.2% Surge in Gasoline, According to GlobalPetrolPrices
Between March 16 and March 30, 2026, Chile reported the highest increase in the price of 95-octane gasoline among all OECD countries, soaring by 14.2%, according to data from the specialized platform GlobalPetrolPrices. «Chile leads in real increases in gasoline prices within the bloc,» confirmed sources from the organization as reported by Nuevo Poder.
The impact was even more dramatic for diesel, which saw a staggering increase of 29.6% during the same period, doubling the rate of the gasoline rise, as noted in the same report.
The publication further indicates that despite this negative record, gasoline prices in Chile remain below the European average due to higher tax burdens in that region, although they significantly exceed those in neighboring countries such as Colombia, as highlighted by GlobalPetrolPrices in its comparative analysis.
The outlook for the coming weeks «remains uncertain and trending upward,» warned the platform, influenced by the volatility of WTI crude oil, which has hovered around $100 per barrel following statements made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the extension of military operations in the Middle East.
Local experts project new weekly increases that could add up to an additional $37 per liter by mid-April, as reported by La Tercera citing sources from the energy market.
«I Came to Buy ‘Gold’: 60% of Chileans View Kast’s Rate Hike as ‘Avoidable,’ International Agencies Report
FRANCE 24 detailed in a report published on March 31, 2026, the social unrest erupting in Santiago following the newly installed Government of José Antonio Kast’s decision not to implement the Fuel Price Stabilization Mechanism (Mepco). “I came to buy ‘gold,’ I really think this is terrible. It was a completely arbitrary measure by the government,” stated Valentina Ortega, a driver who managed to fuel up just minutes before the historical price increase took effect, as quoted by Reuters—cited by FRANCE 24.
The report highlights that the increase reaches 30% for gasoline and 60% for diesel, marking the most drastic change since the Mepco’s inception in 2014.
President Kast defended the measure on March 26 before the media, arguing that the state is “out of money.” “Let there be no doubt that our decision is to improve the quality of life, enhance investment opportunities in our homeland. And I ask every Chilean to help us, to cooperate with these measures that are difficult, not easy,” the president stated, according to coverage by FRANCE 24. However, researcher Recaredo Gálvez from the Fundación Sol noted in an interview with a local media outlet cited in the report: “The Kast government seeks to establish a shock doctrine.”
The weekly Cadem survey, cited by FRANCE 24, revealed that 60% of the population considers the price hike to be “avoidable.” Disapproval of Kast’s management has reached 51%, while his approval rating has fallen to 43%, a drop from the 57% with which he assumed office on March 11.
Spokesperson Minister Mara Sedini has the lowest approval rating (51% disapproval), followed by Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz, according to the same data. In response to the crisis, the government has frozen kerosene prices for heating, public transport in Santiago, and provided a monthly bonus of around $100 for taxi drivers and school transport, as reported by FRANCE 24 in their coverage titled “Chile Passes Oil Costs to Citizens and Sparks Social Anger.”
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