Fuel prices in Romania remained significantly below the European Union average for most of the period between March 1 and June 30, 2026, both in terms of retail prices including taxes and prices excluding taxes, according to the Romanian Competition Council, which is monitoring price developments following the expiry of the cap on commercial mark-ups and the temporary reduction in diesel excise duty.

According to a press release from the competition authority, the data analysed so far also show that the gap between Romanian prices and the EU average was larger than usual, particularly in the case of pre-tax prices.

In the final days of the period under review, the gap between diesel prices in Romania and the European average gradually narrowed, with Romania returning towards the situation seen before the outbreak of the war, when domestic diesel prices were closer to the EU average than petrol prices.

'The available data show that during the period when commercial mark-ups were capped and diesel excise duty was temporarily reduced, fuel prices in Romania were lower than the European Union average. In recent days, we have observed diesel prices gradually moving closer to the European average, which points rather to a return to the pre-war situation. We will continue to monitor the market, particularly following the expiry of the temporary measures,' Competition Council President Bogdan Chiritoiu said in the press release.

In mid-June, retail fuel prices in Romania, including taxes, were 7.2% below the EU average for petrol and 3.7% below the EU average for diesel. Excluding taxes, the differences were even greater: 15.1% below the EU average for petrol and 8.3% below the EU average for diesel.

In terms of pre-tax prices, Romania ranked among the EU countries with the lowest price levels in June, with a wider-than-usual gap compared with the European average.

Following the sharp price increases in March, triggered by international tensions and supply disruptions, pump prices entered a downward correction, particularly in June. Domestic pre-tax prices generally followed movements in international Platts and Brent quotations, although the transmission was neither automatic, immediate nor proportional.

For petrol, the correlation with international price movements was more evident, with the decline in international quotations during June reflected in domestic prices.

For diesel, the initial shock was stronger, while the subsequent adjustment was slower and more moderate due to greater volatility and stronger dependence on international markets. According to the press release, this explains why Romanian diesel prices gradually moved closer to the European average in the final days of the period.

As the declared crisis period was not extended, diesel excise duty returned to its previous level on July 1, resulting in an increase of around 36 bani per litre, including VAT.

'The Competition Council has requested information from companies operating on the fuel market and will finalise its report on compliance with the mark-up cap by the end of July. The authority will continue to monitor developments on the fuel market, including after the expiry of the temporary measures, in order to assess how changes in international quotations, costs and commercial conditions are reflected in pump prices,' the press release added. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Tilica; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)