The prices of petrol and diesel would rise about 10 percent in the upcoming days as a result of increases in the international price of crude, said an association grouping service station owners.

The head of the Confederation of Fuel Sellers in Argentina, Raúl Castellano, said he was "certain" that the prices would rise, but said the new price level has not been set. "We don't know which will be the impact on the final price," he asserted, but estimated it could likely increase 10 percent.

He meanwhile denounced that the sector is facing a "difficult situation" given sliding sales and a reduction in prices. He also reported shortages in the volume of fuels sent by oil companies to service stations.

"Sales have dropped 10 percent last month, but also the shipments sent by oil companies, which are adjusted to the volume of sales," he told interviewers in Buenos Aires.