Romania Fuel Prices: Diesel RON 10.42/l, Petrol RON 9.95/l — NRG-IA

Fuel prices are entering the second half of September at some of their highest levels in recent months. On September 13, the average calculated by PretCarburant.ro from monitored service stations indicated RON 9.95/liter for standard 95 petrol and RON 10.42/liter for standard diesel . Petrol remained stable compared to the previous day, while diesel added one ban, but the most significant movement is visible over a one-week interval. On September 6, the same series showed RON 9.74/l for petrol and RON 10.22/l for diesel . Comparing Sunday to Sunday, prices thus increased by 21 bani/liter for petrol and 20 bani/liter for diesel . These levels are averages calculated by the aggregator from prices reported by stations, not official state-set prices. However, an independent data series compiled from the Competition Council's Fuel Price Monitor confirmed nearly identical values on September 11: RON 9.95/l for petrol and RON 10.41/l for diesel . Diesel rises while the excise duty is reduced to the maximum level of the mechanism The trajectory of diesel is the most relevant for the current price hike episode. Since September 1, the state has been applying a 25% reduction in the excise duty on standard diesel , the maximum level permitted by the temporary mechanism introduced by Law no. 162/2026. For the September 1–15 period, the Ministry of Finance set an excise duty reduction of RON 701.07 per 1,000 liters , down to an effective level of RON 2,103.22/1,000 liters . The measure initially produced a visible drop at the pump. In the series based on the Price Monitor, diesel fell on September 1 from approximately RON 10.22/l to RON 10.06/l , a decrease of about 16–17 bani/liter. However, this trend quickly reversed. By September 11, the same series had reached RON 10.41/l , and the aggregated average on September 13 stood at RON 10.42/l . The cumulative increase following the price drop at the beginning of the month has thus numerically exceeded the initial reduction observed when the fiscal discount was increased. The data does not allow this difference to be attributed to a single price component, nor does it support the conclusion that the excise duty reduction was simply "absorbed" by retailers. Over the same period, conditions on international markets deteriorated sharply. Oil above $100 is only part of the pressure Brent closed the September 11 session at $104.61/barrel , after a week in which the European benchmark rose by over 8% and temporarily neared $110/barrel. Escalating risks to production and export routes in the Middle East have reintroduced a significant geopolitical premium to oil prices. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on alternative infrastructure in the region have amplified uncertainty in a market where the availability of transportable crude to buyers has become as critical as actual production. For fuel at the pump, however, the Brent price is only one component. Refined petroleum products have also surged. European refining margins for petrol and diesel climbed to unusually high levels in September, against a backdrop where global refining capacity is strained by disruptions in Russia and the Middle East, alongside reduced availability of certain finished products. This distinction is crucial for consumers. Petrol and diesel are not purchased by the market at the price of a Brent barrel. The final cost reflects crude oil, its refining into petroleum products, European petrol and diesel quotes, taxation, exchange rates, logistics, and the commercial margin. Indeed, the fiscal mechanism introduced in Romania for diesel utilizes the evolution of the Platts diesel quotation , not just crude oil prices, to determine the excise duty reduction. The increase is already hitting drivers' budgets The difference of approximately 20 bani/liter accumulated in a week may seem small when looking at a single liter, but it becomes noticeable at the pump. At the average of RON 9.95/l, a full 50-liter tank of petrol costs approximately RON 497.5 . For the same amount of diesel, at RON 10.42/l, the cost reaches RON 521 . Compared to September 6 levels, a 50-liter tank costs about RON 10.5 more for petrol and RON 10 more for diesel . Furthermore, diesel has a broader economic transmission. Its rising cost affects road transport and logistics, and persistent high prices can put pressure on distribution costs for goods and services. It was precisely this mechanism that authorities cited when introducing the temporary excise duty reduction scheme. Romania is already cushioning the shock through two mechanisms The excise duty reduction is not the only intervention in place. Law no. 162/2026 also temporarily caps the commercial markup applied to petrol and diesel, indexing it to the average practiced by operators in 2025, in accordance with the conditions set out in the legislation. Retailers can increase fuel prices at most once a day, up to 12:00 PM, while reductions can be implemented at any time.…