The fuel-price illusion from Sept. 1: How petrol stations could absorb the diesel tax cut

Romania’s latest diesel tax cut could lower pump prices by about 85 bani per liter, but consumers may not receive the full reduction. The temporary measure takes effect on Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 15, 2026.

The discount on standard diesel excise duty will rise from 20% to 25%. The tax will fall by 701.07 lei per 1,000 liters, or about 70 bani per liter before VAT and approximately 85 bani after VAT. The effective excise duty will drop to 2,103.22 lei per 1,000 liters.

It follows a 20% reduction introduced on Aug. 16. Before that measure, standard diesel averaged about 10.74 lei per liter. Prices fell to roughly 10.10 lei immediately afterward, then climbed by around 13 to 15 bani to about 10.23 lei. Even after the increase, the average remained approximately 50 to 53 bani below its earlier level.

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There is a real risk that part of the fiscal benefit will not reach the consumer, but will be absorbed into the price.

Energy expert Silviu Gresoi told Adevărul that any price increase just before the new tax reduction would need to be assessed against actual costs and commercial margins. “There is a real risk that part of the fiscal benefit will not reach the consumer, but will be absorbed into the price,” he said. He added that Romania’s consumer-protection authority had grounds to inspect stations, while the Competition Council should determine whether price changes reflected ordinary commercial adjustments or coordinated or abusive conduct.

Gresoi said the final price also includes the fuel’s base cost, transport, exchange-rate movements, VAT and the station’s margin. A lower excise duty can therefore be partly or completely offset if other components rise.

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The reduction in excise duty does not automatically show up at the pump if the base price or commercial margin rises during the same period.