How much the state earns now for each liter of gasoline and diesel. The trade unionists' calculation shows the price structure after the last month's increases
The National Trade Union Bloc (BNS) said on Wednesday that the state is currently collecting additional revenues than forecast as a result of the increase in fuel prices, considering the level of taxes in the price composition and the fact that the Government built the budget for 2026 referring to the levels of January, when gasoline and diesel cost less.
According to the trade unionists, in December, diesel fuel cost 7.51 lei at the pump, of which over 2.54 lei represented the excise duty, over 1.3 lei were VAT, and about 1.96 lei were the costs of refining and distribution.
The excise duty was increased at the beginning of the year, exceeding 2.8 lei.
On January 22, according to NBS calculations, a liter of diesel cost 8.15 lei at the pump (over 2.8 lei – excise duty; about 1.41 lei – VAT; about 1.97 lei – the price of refining and distribution).
Additional revenues for the state of 0.3593 lei per liter of diesel
On March 24, against the background of the increase in the international oil quotation due to the war in the Middle East, the price of a liter of diesel fuel reached 9.97 lei, a third higher than at the end of last year, according to the NBS.
Of the 9.97 lei, more than 4.5 lei are taxes (over 3 lei – excise duty; almost 1.6 lei – VAT), and approximately 1.4 lei cost refining and distribution.
The SNB notes that the Government built the budget for 2026 by referring to the levels of January, so it currently collects additional revenues of 0.3593 lei for each liter of diesel sold.
Diesel prices:
| Date | Petrol price (lei/l) | Excise duty (lei/l) | VAT (lei/l) | Refining & Dist. (lei/l) | Pump price (lei/l) |
| 25.12.2025 | 1.69 | 2.54935 | 1.3034 | 1.9654 | 7.51 |
| 20.01.2026 | 1.75 | 2.80429 | 1.3711 | 1.9699 | 7.90 |
| 22.02.2026 | 1.96 | 2.80429 | 1.4145 | 1.9753 | 8.15 |
| 03.03.2026 | 2.00 | 2.80429 | 1.4405 | 2.0552 | 8.30 |
| 16.03.2026 | 2.88 | 2.80429 | 1.5602 | 1.7450 | 8.99 |
| 24.03.2026 | 3.13 | 2.80429 | 1.7303 | 2.3033 | 9.97 |
| – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Evolution (%) | +85% | +10% | +33% | +17% | +33% |
0.2603 lei extra for each liter of gasoline
On December 25, according to NBS data, a liter of gasoline cost 7.29 lei at the pump, 26% less than the price it reached on March 24.
Of the 7.29 lei, the excise duty represented 2.781 lei, the VAT had a value of 1.2652 lei, and the costs of refining and distribution were 1.552 lei.
On January 22, the price of gasoline was 7.86 lei, of which more than 3.05 lei – excise duty, about 1.36 lei – VAT, and about 1.36 lei – refining and distribution costs.
On March 24, a liter of gasoline cost 9.19 lei at the pump. Approximately half of the amount was represented by taxes (3.0598 lei – excise duty; 1.595 lei – VAT), and more than 1.4 lei was the price of refining and distribution, the NBS calculations also show.
Gasoline prices:
| Date | Petrol (lei/l) | Excise duty (lei/l) | VAT (lei/l) | Refining & Dist. | Pump price (lei/l) |
| 25.12.2025 | 1.69 | 2.7810 | 1.2652 | 1.5520 | 7.29 |
| 20.01.2026 | 1.75 | 3.0598 | 1.3346 | 1.5410 | 7.69 |
| 22.02.2026 | 1.96 | 3.0598 | 1.3641 | 1.4800 | 7.86 |
| 03.03.2026 | 2.00 | 3.0598 | 1.3884 | 1.5520 | 8.00 |
| 16.03.2026 | 2.88 | 3.0598 | 1.4787 | 1.1010 | 8.52 |
| 24.03.2026 | 3.13 | 3.0598 | 1.5950 | 1.4030 | 9.19 |
| – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Evolution (%) | +85% | +10% | +26% | -10% | +26% |
Thus, according to the trade unionists, the state currently collects additional revenues of 0.2603 lei for each liter of gasoline sold.
On December 25, the price of a barrel of oil was 269 lei. On March 24, it was 85% higher, i.e. 498 lei.
Coalition tensions over fuel price crisis measures
The measures announced by the Bolojan Government have become a new topic of tension in the coalition, where the PSD requests a reduction in excise taxes. The union leaders boycotted the talks with the Government, but they met with Sorin Grindeanu, the president of the social democrats.
“Reducing the excise tax and capping prices are serious topics that deserve a serious debate, with impact calculations, with identified funding sources (…). They are not topics for an image campaign”, reacted the PNL, after PSD's request.
The ordinance prepared by the Bolojan Government received a negative opinion from the Economic and Social Council.
Photo: Zhanat Aitkhozhin | Dreamstime.com
