publication
2026-01-23 11:08
The penultimate week of January brought further, slight reductions in average fuel prices in Poland. However, the increase in prices of gasoline and diesel oil on global stock exchanges resulted in the above-average retail margins almost disappearing.
In the last week of the year, Pb95 petrol at Polish stations cost on average PLN 5.65/l and was only PLN 2/l cheaper than the week before – according to BM Reflex data. It was both lowest average retail price since February 2022. Diesel fuel was filled at an average price of PLN 5.91/l, which is PLN 4/l less than a week ago. The average retail price of autogas remained unchanged at PLN 2.71/l.
This was the tenth (in the case of Pb95 gasoline) and eighth (in the case of diesel) weeks of decline in average retail fuel prices in Poland, respectively. At the same time, refinery rates increased for the second week in a row. As a result, implied retail margins returned to more normal levels after being artificially inflated for the previous two months.
Current prices are also much lower than a year ago. On average, Pb95 gasoline in the country is 59 gr/l cheaper than it was in January 2025. We pay PLN 49/l less for diesel oil than last year, and for autogas – PLN 56/l less. We are writing here about the average for the whole of Poland, while the rates at individual stations may differ by up to several dozen groszy per liter, depending on the strength of local competition and other market and logistic conditions.
Fuel prices in Polish refineries are rising
On January 23, Orlen offered Eurosuper 95 gasoline at PLN 4,289/m3, which after adding 23% VAT (excise duty, fuel surcharge and other para-taxes are already included in the wholesale price) gives approximately PLN 5.28/l. This is 5 gr/l more than a week ago and 10 gr/l more than two weeks ago. And even before Christmas, wholesale gasoline cost as much as PLN 5.13/l, which was the lowest rate since June 2021.
Due to the increase in wholesale prices and slight reductions in retail, the implied retail margin on gasoline sales decreased to PLN 37/l. In the previous weeks, this parameter reached 50-60 gr/l and was more than twice as high as the historical average.
The same happens in the case of diesel oil, which in the Friday price list of the Płock refinery was listed at PLN 4,586/m3, which after vating gives PLN 5.64/l. And this is only PLN 27/l below the average retail price. Therefore, in the case of ON, the retail margin has returned to close to the long-term average.
Increases in the price lists of domestic refineries were a consequence of the increase in fuel prices on global stock exchanges. A gallon of gasoline in New York increased to nearly USD 1.82, while at the beginning of January it cost less than USD 1.70 and was the cheapest in 5 years. London diesel prices rose even further, valued at USD 665/t on Friday. This is over 10% more than at the beginning of the year.
Finally, as usual, let us add that unnaturally increased retail margins are nothing compared to what the authorities do to drivers. From every liter of gasoline or diesel oil purchased, over 50% goes to the state. Without paying tribute to the government, we could fill up with Pb95 petrol for approx. PLN 2.50/l, diesel for approx. PLN 2.80/l, and autogas for approx. PLN 1.70/l. The difference between the pylon rates and the above prices goes to the state treasury.
