The differences in diesel prices between Romania and neighbouring countries are significantly affecting the profit margins of transport operators, and without a real mechanism for excise duty reimbursement, Romania is losing both its competitiveness and public budget revenues, according to representatives of the National Union of Road Hauliers from Romania (UNTRR).
'The increase in diesel excise duty has caused an accelerated loss of competitiveness for Romanian transport operators, with direct effects on the national economy. The price differences between Romania and neighbouring states reduce operators' margins by half to two thirds, margins which are already very small,' the press release reads.
Under these conditions, refuelling in Romania is becoming economically unprofitable, forcing companies to purchase fuel from outside the country, the transport operators added, mentioning that this practice also reduces Romania's taxation revenues.
'Romania has one of the highest diesel excise duties in the EU, namely 2,548.35 lei per 1,000 litres - at the exchange rate at the beginning of November, around 502 euro per 1,000 litres, which is 172 above the European minimum of 330 euro per 1,000 litres, a rate applied for example in Bulgaria. This situation creates significant price differences (excluding VAT and with partial excise) compared with countries in the region: Hungary: -11 to -15 euro cents per litre; Croatia: -21 euro cents per litre; Slovenia: -10 to -14 euro cents per litre,' the release also reads.
UNTRR underscores that, in order to bring fuelling back to Romania, a reimbursement worth 60 bani per litre would be needed, adding that the reimbursement scheme must be adjusted to protect Romania's competitiveness.
Thus, the UNTRR requests that the excise reimbursement scheme be adjusted so that the eligible period runs from 31 March to 31 December 2025, with the reimbursement amounts set at 34 bani per litre for the period 31 March to 31 July 2025 and 60 bani per litre for 1 August to 31 December 2025.
The transport operators are also asking for the scheme to be automatically extended into 2026, at least at the same reimbursement levels, in order to provide predictability for Romanian transport companies and ensure fair competition with foreign operators.
This solution is fiscally balanced, protects the competitiveness of transport operators and prevents further cost increases across all economic sectors - from exports and imports to consumer prices, the source points out.
'The current price differences are significantly affecting transport operators' margins. Without excise reimbursement, Romania will continue to lose competitiveness and tax revenue to neighbouring states,' UNTRR Secretary General Radu Dinescu is quoted in the release as saying.
In this regard, the UNTRR expresses its willingness to work with the authorities to define a predictable and competitive fiscal framework that will maintain refuelling within the country and support the national economy.
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