The new year has opened with an increase in the price of diesel, a change that many motorists noticed immediately at the pump.
It is important, however, to clarify a key point: the increase does not depend on service stations and does not generate any profit for operators.
Why Diesel Costs More
As of 1 January, the alignment of excise duties on petrol and diesel provided for in the budget law has come into force.
In concrete terms:
- the excise duty on petrol has been reduced by 4.05 cents per litre;
- the excise duty on diesel has been increased by the same amount;
- taking VAT into account as well, the final effect is an increase of about 5 cents per litre in the price of diesel.
The average price of diesel therefore stands at around €1.78 per litre (indicative value).
An Increase That Is Purely Fiscal
This price rise is exclusively fiscal in nature:
- the entire increase goes to the State;
- no part of the increase is retained by the service station.
Operators’ margins remain unchanged.
What This Means for Those Refuelling
It is often assumed that price increases at the pump are decided by fuel retailers. In this case, however:
- operators do not earn a single extra cent;
- they still have to explain to customers an increase decided upstream;
- they bear customer dissatisfaction and daily price comparisons, without any economic benefit.
Higher Prices, Same Service
Service stations continue to guarantee:
- assistance,
- safety,
- fuel quality,
even in the presence of increases that do not depend on the retail network.
Understanding the origin of price increases helps consumers make more informed choices and better understand what really lies behind the price at the pump.
