DistantNews
Support us
🇸🇪 Sweden /Economy & Trade

Low diesel prices lure foreign trucks to refuel in Sweden

From Svenska Dagbladet · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Low diesel prices in Sweden are attracting foreign haulers to refuel, saving them thousands of kronor per truck.
  • Swedish diesel prices are among the lowest in the EU due to tax cuts, benefiting not only tourists but also long-haul truckers.
  • The Swedish government sees the lower prices, despite costing the state billions, as a necessary measure to support its own struggling transport industry.

Foreign trucking companies are rerouting to refuel in Sweden, drawn by significantly lower diesel prices that offer savings of thousands of kronor per full tank. This "fuel tourism" is noticeable at Swedish border crossings, with Danish, German, Norwegian, and Finnish haulers capitalizing on the price difference.

You naturally refuel where it's cheapest; haulers are under severe pressure.

— Tina ThorsellHead of public affairs at Transportföretagen, explaining why foreign haulers are choosing to refuel in Sweden.

According to Transportföretagen, a Swedish industry organization, a Finnish hauler could save 7,500 kronor on a 1,000-liter tank compared to prices in Finland. Danish haulers save 5,800 kronor, and Norwegian haulers save 4,000 kronor. "That's the driving force," says Tina Thorsell, head of public affairs at Transportföretagen. She notes that while foreign haulers refueling in Sweden is a current trend, the practice of cross-border refueling itself is not new.

That's the driving force.

— Tina ThorsellReferring to the significant savings haulers can achieve by refueling in Sweden.

Fuel costs represent a significant expense for trucking companies, prompting them to adjust routes for the cheapest refueling options. "You naturally refuel where it's cheapest; haulers are under severe pressure," Thorsell stated. Similar observations come from Danish and Norwegian industry groups. Erik Østergaard, CEO of DTL – Danske Vognmænd, confirmed that substantial savings are possible, noting that companies already operating in Sweden will often wait to refuel until they cross the border and fill up again before returning.

No one drives here solely to refuel, but companies that are already driving in Sweden wait to fill their tanks until they have crossed the border and often fill up again before driving back.

— Erik ØstergaardCEO of DTL – Danske Vognmænd, describing how foreign haulers utilize Swedish fuel prices.

In Norway, market director Kjell Olafsrud of Norges Lastbileier-Forbund (NLF) also sees the trend, reporting many larger trucks refueling in Sweden over the past month. The Swedish government temporarily lowered taxes on gasoline and diesel in May and July due to geopolitical concerns, costing the state 9.3 billion kronor. Energy and Business Minister Ebba Busch stated that while the lower prices benefit foreign haulers, the primary goal was to alleviate the burden on Sweden's own highly impacted trucking industry. "If a few benefit from us having lower prices, so be it. That's not what keeps me awake at night," she said.

There is no doubt that many larger trucks are refueling in Sweden. It is a trend we have seen over the past month.

— Kjell OlafsrudMarket director at Norges Lastbileier-Forbund (NLF), observing the increase in foreign trucks refueling in Sweden.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Svenska Dagbladet in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog