Türkiye Hikes Fuel Tax by 6%, Aims to Control Inflation

A girl sells flowers to passersby on the Karakoy sea promenade in Istanbul, Türkiye, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
A girl sells flowers to passersby on the Karakoy sea promenade in Istanbul, Türkiye, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Türkiye Hikes Fuel Tax by 6%, Aims to Control Inflation

A girl sells flowers to passersby on the Karakoy sea promenade in Istanbul, Türkiye, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
A girl sells flowers to passersby on the Karakoy sea promenade in Istanbul, Türkiye, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Türkiye imposed a 6% tax hike on fuel on Tuesday, after its finance minister said over the weekend that tax moves on fuel and tobacco would not affect the government's inflation goal.

The special consumption tax per liter for fuel has been increased by around 6%, according to a presidential decree in the Official Gazette, which publishes new legislation and official announcements.

The special consumption tax on fuel is adjusted every six months based on the producer price index. With the 5-month cumulative PPI since the last increase standing at 7.12%, the latest tax hike is below the index.

Authorities will announce an update on the PPI on Jan. 3, when it is widely expected to increase, Reuters reported.

Fuel taxes typically have a major impact on inflation.
But Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said on Sunday that tax hikes for fuel and tobacco in the New Year will be set in a way that does not affect the country's 2025 inflation outlook.
Turkish annual inflation stood at 47.1% in November, higher than expected but at its lowest level since mid-2023. A Reuters poll forecast that it will ease to 26.5% by end-2025, but higher than a central bank prediction of 21%.



Emirates First 'Airbus A350' Enters Commercial Service

Photo by WAM
Photo by WAM
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Emirates First 'Airbus A350' Enters Commercial Service

Photo by WAM
Photo by WAM

Emirates marked a significant milestone on Friday as its first Airbus A350 entered commercial service, operating its inaugural flight from Dubai to Edinburgh.

The aircraft, featuring Emirates' latest cabin products, is the first of 65 A350s joining the airline's fleet over the coming years, WAM reported.

Emirates has configured its A350 to provide three cabin classes, accommodating 312 passengers in 32 next-generation Business Class lie-flat seats, 21 Premium Economy seats, and 259 Economy Class seats.

In the coming months, Emirates will operate its Airbus A350 to eight more global destinations: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kuwait, Bahrain, Colombo, Lyon, Muscat, and Bologna.