Romania Fuel Prices July 26: Diesel at 9.95, Gasoline at 9.07 — NRG-IA

Standard diesel reached an average price of RON 9.95 per liter on Sunday, July 26, while standard gasoline hit RON 9.07 per liter. In just seven days, diesel prices rose by an average of 41 bani, and gasoline by 31 bani, adding over RON 20 to the cost of a full tank of diesel. Data available on the morning of July 26 reveals an unusually uniform market. Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iași, Constanța, Brașov, Craiova, and Ploiești are separated by just one or two bani in their average standard fuel prices. At this point, the specific retail network and station matter more than the city where refueling takes place. The price hike is driven by multiple factors. Crude oil prices surged over the past week, maritime shipping risks escalated, and diesel has also been absorbing the impact of the excise duty returning to its pre-temporary-cut level since July. These pressures are being passed through to pump prices with varying intensity and time lags. Diesel prices rise faster than gasoline The average price of standard gasoline rose from approximately RON 8.76 per liter on July 19 to RON 9.07 on July 26. This 31-bani increase represents a weekly advance of around 3.5%. Standard diesel climbed from RON 9.54 to RON 9.95 per liter, up by 41 bani or roughly 4.3%. Consequently, the price spread between the two fuels has reached 88 bani per liter. A driver filling up with 50 liters of gasoline now pays approximately RON 453.50, which is RON 15.50 more than a week ago. For the same volume of diesel, the cost reaches around RON 497.50, an increase of RON 20.50. At current levels, a full tank of diesel is RON 44 more expensive than one of standard gasoline. For haulers, distribution companies, agriculture, and high-volume commercial operators, this spread is far more significant than for occasional passenger car refueling. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) remained stable, averaging around RON 4.56 per liter. A 50-liter fill-up costs about RON 228, nearly half the price of a full tank of diesel. Premium fuel grades have already crossed the RON 10 threshold for diesel. Premium gasoline averages around RON 9.64 per liter, while premium diesel has reached approximately RON 10.72. A 50-liter tank of premium diesel thus costs around RON 536. Major cities converge to near-identical levels Differences between major urban centers are minimal. Standard gasoline averages RON 9.07–9.08 per liter, while diesel ranges between RON 9.95 and 9.96. In Bucharest, the observed average was RON 9.07 for gasoline and RON 9.95 for diesel. The lowest identified prices dropped to around RON 9.02 for gasoline and RON 9.88 for diesel. In Cluj-Napoca, gasoline averaged RON 9.08, and diesel RON 9.96. The lowest observed values were RON 9.04 for gasoline and RON 9.89 for diesel. In Timișoara, the average was RON 9.08 for gasoline and RON 9.96 for diesel. Minimum identified prices reached approximately RON 9.02 for gasoline and RON 9.88 for diesel. Iași stood at an average of RON 9.08 for gasoline and RON 9.96 for diesel. The observed minimums were slightly higher, at around RON 9.06 for gasoline and RON 9.92 for diesel. In Constanța, gasoline averaged RON 9.07, and diesel RON 9.96. The lowest available prices fell to RON 9.02 for gasoline and RON 9.88 for diesel. Brașov stood at RON 9.08 for gasoline and RON 9.96 for diesel, with minimums of approximately RON 9.02 and RON 9.88, respectively. In Craiova, the average was RON 9.07 for gasoline and RON 9.95 for diesel. The lowest observed values were RON 9.02 for gasoline and RON 9.88 for diesel. In Ploiești, gasoline averaged RON 9.08, and diesel RON 9.96. Minimums dropped to approximately RON 9.06 for gasoline and RON 9.92 for diesel. Bucharest and Craiova remained marginally below other cities for average diesel prices, but the difference is just one ban. For gasoline, Bucharest, Constanța, and Craiova averaged RON 9.07, compared to RON 9.08 in the other analyzed centers. This convergence indicates a nationwide trend, driven primarily by shared market costs: international benchmarks, taxation, transport, refining, and the commercial policies of major retail networks. Currently, no major city offers significantly cheaper fuel on average. Real differences emerge at the station level. There can be a gap of six to eight bani per liter between a city's average and its lowest identified price, equivalent to three to four lei for a 50-liter fill-up. Petrom and SOCAR remain at the lower end of the market While prices are not identical across all stations of the same network, the dominant levels observed in major cities outline a relatively clear segmentation. Petrom generally charges between RON 9.05 and 9.06 for standard gasoline and between RON 9.91 and 9.92 for diesel, making it one of the cheapest major networks in the analyzed cities. SOCAR features prices of around RON 9.02–9.04 for gasoline and RON 9.88–9.89 for diesel, where the network has stations and updated pricing. In some cities, these values…