publication
2026-04-17 10:38
In mid-April, drivers could feel significant relief at the pumps. Average prices of diesel oil and gasoline have dropped significantly. People who were refueling with autogas were still unhappy, as prices remained close to record high levels.
Last week, the average retail price of Pb95 gasoline was PLN 6.05/l and was 18 groszy per liter higher than a week ago – according to BM Reflex data. The average retail price of diesel oil dropped by as much as 54 groszy, with fuel oil filling at an average price of PLN 7.17/l.
It's still horrendously expensive, but also PLN 1.58/l cheaper than at the end of March. Such a strong reduction was caused not only by a temporary reduction in tax rates (i.e. VAT and excise duty), but also by a strong drop in wholesale prices.
However, the average retail price of autogas dropped only by a penny. A liter of LPG cost an average of PLN 3.83, after the prices of this fuel reached unprecedented levels last week. Then stations appeared offering autogas for PLN 4/l.
The government lowers the maximum price following stock exchange quotations
In Friday's “price list” of the Minister of Energy, the maximum price of Pb95 was set at PLN 6.04/l, while diesel cannot cost more than PLN 7.18/l. However, based on Friday's wholesale rates in Orlen, the maximum prices applicable over the weekend should be even lower and amount to PLN 6.01/l for Pb95 gasoline and PLN 7.05/l for diesel oil. If this downward trend is maintained, next week we should see a lot of stations offering petrol for less than PLN 6/l and diesel for less than PLN 7/l.
On April 17, the price list of the Płock refinery offered Ekodiesel diesel oil at PLN 6,247/m3, i.e. approximately PLN 6.75/l after adding 8% VAT (excise duty and other para-taxes are already included in the wholesale price). This is as much as PLN 61/l cheaper than a week ago.
Of course, this state of affairs is not the result of the good will of the Orlen management board, but a consequence of the weakening dollar and the decline in fuel prices.
On Friday morning, a ton of diesel oil was valued at USD 1,180 on the London ICE exchange. Although it is still more than half as much as before the Israeli-American attack on Iran, it is also a quarter cheaper than 10 days ago. This was compounded by a decline in the USD/PLN exchange rate, which dropped from PLN 3.75 to almost PLN 3.60 since the beginning of April. Thanks to this, Orlen was able to reduce its wholesale prices and the Minister of Energy could adjust the maximum price downwards.
No such progress could be made on gasoline, which was trading at $3.16/gallon on the New York Mercantile Exchange. This value is slightly lower than the March highs ($3.38/gallon) and at the same time 37% higher than the pre-war level. As a result, in the Friday price list of the Płock refinery, Eurosuper 95 gasoline was listed at PLN 5,287/m3, which after VAT would give approximately PLN 5.71/l. Despite this, it is possible for retail prices to drop below PLN 6.
Lower taxes will stay with us at least until the May weekend
Two days ago, important information for drivers appeared from the government. The Minister of Energy announced that temporarily reduced VAT and excise duty rates on liquid fuels will apply at least until the end of April. The original regulation assumed that excise duty would return to its pre-war level on April 16. The minister announced that the CPN package will remain in force as long as the difficult situation in the Middle East continues. Let us remind you that autogas is not subject to these arrangements and is subject to 23% VAT.
However, if the US and Iranian governments manage to reach a peace agreement soon, wholesale fuel prices may drop significantly and then the Polish authorities will restore the 23% VAT. In such a situation, before the May weekend, we will be faced with a large national refueling and stockpiling of lower-taxed fuel in canisters.
After the introduction of CPN, fuel taxation was temporarily significantly reduced. Currently, the state takes just over every third zloty paid at the station for filling up with Pb95 gasoline. In the case of diesel fuel, taxes constitute approximately 30% of the retail price. This is much less than at the end of February, when the government collected almost half of the price paid by drivers. If “standard” VAT and excise duty rates were still in force, the retail price of diesel oil would be approximately PLN 9/l, and PB95 petrol would cost well over PLN 7/l.
