Drivers are benefiting from a new diesel price decrease starting September 1st. The temporary reduction of the excise duty has been increased from 20% to 25%, and the effect is already visible at gas stations: in some stations, the price of standard diesel has once again dropped below the 10 lei per liter threshold.
At Petrom, the market leader, the standard diesel decreased on Monday night to Tuesday by 17 bani per liter, from 10.14 lei to 9.97 lei/liter, according to Profit.ro. The same price is displayed at a Socar station in Bucharest. Lukoil also reduced its price by 17 bani, down to 10.23 lei/liter.
At premium OMV stations, diesel went down from 10.20 to 10.03 lei/liter. If the tax reduction is fully passed on to customers by other companies as well, diesel is expected to reach approximately 10.03 lei/liter at Rompetrol and MOL stations, according to calculations by Profit.ro.
Why the excise is decreasing
The decrease comes after the Ministry of Finance decided to increase the temporary excise duty reduction on standard diesel from 20% to 25%. The new level is valid between September 1st and 15th and is part of the mechanism introduced by Law 162/2026, where the situation is re-evaluated every two weeks.
The excise reduction is 701.07 lei for 1,000 liters. Taking into account VAT as well, the fiscal effect amounts to approximately 85 bani per liter. However, at the pump, the difference compared to the prices at the end of August is smaller because a 20% excise reduction was already applied in the previous period.
Thus, the transition from a 20% to a 25% reduction has now brought an effective decrease of 17 bani per liter in the case of Petrom.
The Ministry of Finance explains the decision by the new increases in the international diesel market and says it is trying to limit the pressure on consumer prices.
“Given the pressures of the past two weeks, the level of the diesel excise reduction has increased from 20% to 25%. It is a temporary and calibrated intervention aimed at reducing some of the fiscal pressure on prices,” said Alexandru Nazare, the interim Minister of Finance.
According to data presented by the ministry, the international Platts quotes for diesel considered by the mechanism have recorded a variation of 45.65%, while the standard price variation was 25.45%. The formula provided by the law thus led to the application of the 25% reduction threshold.
Why the state intervenes
The measure aims not only to affect the price paid by drivers at the pump. Fuels are part of the costs for transporters and logistics companies, and their price increase can be passed on to food prices and other products.
The Ministry of Finance says that the mechanism was designed precisely to limit this chain effect and can be adjusted every two weeks, depending on market developments.
In the second half of August, the excise reduction was 20%, equivalent to approximately 56 bani per liter without VAT. For the first half of September, the reduction increases to 25%.
What will happen after September 15th will depend on the next evaluation of prices and international quotes.