Fuel Prices May Rise by 15 Groszy Next Week

The price hikes announced for the end of February at Polish fuel stations are a direct result of the tense geopolitical situation in the Middle East. The lack of a diplomatic agreement between the United States and Iran, combined with the announcement of an American ultimatum and its approaching expiry date, has pushed markets into a phase of heightened risk. Oil prices on global markets have reached levels not seen in over half a year. Experts from the Reflex and e-petrol.pl portals indicate that the Polish wholesale market has already reacted to these reports, which will inevitably translate into retail prices. An additional factor burdening Poles' wallets is the weakness of the domestic currency against the US dollar, in which energy commodities are settled. The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global oil trade flows, has historically been a flashpoint in relations between Iran and the West. Threats of its blockade during periods of political tension regularly cause price shocks on global fuel exchanges. Forecasted average prices for next week assume that 95-octane gasoline will cost between PLN 5.63 and PLN 5.76 per liter. In the case of diesel, the upper limit may exceed the PLN 6 barrier. The situation is further worsened by logistical problems in the region, including a failure of the "Friendship" pipeline and a reorganization of supplies for refineries in Central Europe. Despite the general upward trend, there are local exceptions, such as promotional campaigns by the AMIC Energy network in Łódź, temporarily offering fuel below PLN 5 per liter, which, however, is merely an isolated marketing case against the backdrop of widespread high prices. 15 gr — could be the price increase for diesel per liter Simultaneously, the discussion over the costs of the climate transition is intensifying in Europe. The governments of Italy and Germany are taking steps to protect their citizens and industry from high energy prices. Giorgia Meloni's cabinet has adopted a decree worth EUR 3 billion aimed at compensating for the costs of greenhouse gas emission allowances on electricity bills. Pressure to reform the EU ETS system is growing stronger, as record-high energy prices are hitting the competitiveness of the European economy. „Queste misure sono molto significative, abbiamo mantenuto la promessa fatta ai cittadini e alle imprese.” — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni A threat to future disposable household incomes is also the upcoming implementation of the ETS2 system. Experts warn that the new regulations will act like a "hidden tax," drastically increasing heating and transport bills, which could further fuel inflationary pressure in Poland.