Romania will temporarily cut the excise duty on standard diesel by 20% from August 16 to 31, in response to a sharp rise in international quotations and pump prices, Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare announced Thursday.
"Less pressure at the pump: from August 16, we are temporarily cutting the diesel excise duty by 20%. Between August 16 and 31, 2026, the Finance Ministry will reduce the excise duty on standard diesel by 560.86 lei per 1,000 litres. The measure comes in response to a sharp rise in international quotations and pump prices. The mechanism introduced by Law No. 162/2026 allows the state to intervene quickly when market conditions require it," Nazare wrote on Facebook, according to Agerpres.
He said the measure would bring tangible benefits to drivers, hauliers and farmers, as well as to the economy.
"For drivers: 68 bani saved per litre, or approximately 34 lei for a 50-litre tank. For hauliers: the saving amounts to approximately 2,443 lei per year for a light commercial vehicle and 23,750 lei per year for a 40-tonne lorry. For farmers: approximately 6,800 lei saved per season, based on consumption of 10,000 litres. For the economy: lower transport and logistics costs, which also translate into less pressure on the prices of goods and services for consumers," the Finance Minister said.
The measure is calculated on the basis of objective indicators - the international Platts quotation and the average pump price - and is adjusted according to market developments. When prices fall, the excise duty reduction will automatically decrease, Nazare said.
According to the minister, the mechanism is designed to be self-financing, with no net budgetary cost: price increases that generate additional revenue from VAT and the contribution on the exceptional profits of major operators allow the intervention to be financed.
"We will continue to monitor international quotations and pump prices and will reassess the situation every two weeks. Our objective remains to protect people and the economy as effectively as possible from external shocks, by intervening in a targeted and responsible manner without losing control over the budgetary impact," Nazare also wrote.
According to a Finance Ministry press release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday, the temporary 20% reduction in the excise duty on standard diesel applies from August 16 to 31, 2026, following an analysis of the market indicators provided for under the mechanism introduced by Law No. 162/2026. The measure responds to a significant increase in international quotations and pump prices and aims to limit pressure on households and the economy.
The reduction amounts to 560.86 lei per 1,000 litres, or 663.75 lei per tonne. Thus, from August 16 to 31, the excise duty applicable to standard diesel sold on the domestic market will stand at 2,243.43 lei per 1,000 litres, or 2,654.99 lei per tonne.
"We designed this mechanism precisely so that the state can intervene quickly and in a targeted manner when market developments require it, without fixed fiscal measures that would have budgetary effects regardless of actual conditions. The data for the second half of August show significant pressures: Platts diesel quotations have risen by more than 34%, while the average pump price has increased by more than 23%. Under these circumstances, the mechanism is activated and the excise duty is cut by 20%. It is a temporary intervention calibrated to market developments, through which we reduce pressure on households and companies while maintaining control over the budgetary impact. We will reassess the situation every two weeks and adjust the intervention based on the data," Alexandru Nazare said, according to the press release.
For August 16-31, the excise duty cut is intended to mitigate the pass-through of higher international quotations into costs borne by consumers and companies. The effect is also relevant for transport and logistics, where diesel prices are reflected in the cost of a wide range of goods and services, the Finance Ministry said.
For the period under review, the change in Platts diesel quotations (VPM) stands at +34.13%, while the change in the average pump price of standard diesel (VM) is +23.01%.
Based on these indicators, the mechanism provided for by law triggers a 20% reduction in the excise duty set under the Fiscal Code, according to the ministry.
The mechanism introduced by Law No. 162/2026 allows the excise duty to be temporarily adjusted according to market developments, based on assessments carried out every two weeks. Thus, the fiscal intervention is linked to the intensity of market pressures and can be adjusted when conditions change.
The Finance Ministry will continue to monitor international quotations and pump prices, while the level of the intervention will be reassessed every two weeks, in accordance with the mechanism provided for by law.
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