BEIJING - China raised the retail prices for gasoline and diesel by 300 yuan ($47.53) per tonne starting February 8, the country's top economic planner said on Tuesday.

经济规划机构国家发改委在周二表示，自2月8日凌晨起上调汽油柴油零售价，上调幅度为300元/吨。

The benchmark retail price of gasoline was lifted by 0.22 yuan per liter and diesel by 0.26 yuan per liter, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

根据国家发改委的规定，汽油的零售基准价将上调0.22元/升，柴油上调0.26元/升。

The latest price change, which is much expected by the market, comes amid rising pressures for the country's refineries as the increasing international crude oil futures prices keep driving up their operation costs.

的成品油价格调整在市场预期中。随着国际市场原油期货价格持续走高，造成国内炼油产运营成本增加，压力持续上升。

The price rise will help motivate the oil refineries, ensure supply in the domestic market, guide rational consumptions and promote emission cuts, an official with the NDRC said.

国家发改委有关官员表示，油价上调将促进和帮助炼油厂发展，保证国内市场供应，引导理性消费和促进减排。

The move follows the previous change on October 8 last year, when the NDRC announced the first price cut in 16 months, taking the fuel prices off from record highs.

上一次的成品油调价是在2011年10月8日，那一次调价是当时16个月来油价下调（汽柴油价格每吨均下调300元），使成品油价格离开了历史纪录。

China's current oil pricing system was introduced in May 2009. The system gives the NDRC the right to adjust domestic fuel, diesel and gas prices when average prices for Brent, Cinta, and Dubai crude oil move by 4 percent within 22 consecutive working days.

中国目前实行的成品油定价机制引进自2009年5月。根据该机制的规定，如果国际市场布伦特、辛塔和迪拜三种原油在22个工作日内连续平均价格变化超过4%，国家发改委将有权对国内成品油价格作出调整。