Poland caps petrol at 6.73 zlotys per litre under new energy intervention

Implementation of CPN 3.0 price caps

On 3 October 2026, Poland implemented the third edition of its fuel relief package, known as CPN 3.0, to curb retail prices. Under government regulations valid through the end of 2026, value added tax on fuels fell from 23% to 8%, excise taxes were reduced, and mandatory retail price caps took effect. The Ministry of Energy capped 95-octane petrol at 6.73 zlotys per litre, 98-octane petrol at 7.59 zlotys, and diesel at 7.88 zlotys. These ceilings lowered pump prices by roughly 1.20 to 1.30 zlotys per litre after diesel previously approached 9 zlotys and petrol exceeded 8 zlotys.

Legislative path and presidential approval

The intervention followed parliamentary passage on 18 September 2026 of a windfall tax on fuel producers from March 2026 to the end of Q1 2027. On 1 October 2026, President Karol Nawrocki signed the legislation while sending it for post-enactment review to the Constitutional Tribunal. Finance Minister Andrzej Domański and Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka then issued tax cuts and price caps on 2 October. Motyka stated that previous CPN phases cost the state over 5 billion zlotys. In Stargard, Nawrocki challenged the prime minister over earlier campaign promises.

Please lower fuel prices to 5.19 zlotys.

Political debate over the 5.19 zlotys pledge

Nawrocki referred to Donald Tusk's 2022 promise that fuel would cost 5.19 zlotys per litre under his government. Average pump prices have not reached that level, aside from isolated cases such as a station in Lubieszyn selling petrol at 5.18 zlotys in late 2025. Government officials attributed the gap to global conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, as well as Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. Civic Coalition MEP Bartosz Arłukowicz addressed the pledge on television.

I heard that 5.19 zlotys from Tusk during the election campaign. But back then, and please do not mock this because it is a serious matter, we were not talking about the Strait of Hormuz. I think 80 to 90 percent of Poles did not know such a strait existed. Today we all know about it.

Wholesale market mechanics and global pressures

Reaching 5.19 zlotys under current taxes and a 30-grosz retail margin requires wholesale fuel costs to fall to roughly 4.51 zlotys per litre. Domestic wholesale prices on 5 October stood at 5.98 zlotys for petrol and 6.94 zlotys for diesel, after Pb95 reached 6,077.80 zlotys per cubic metre and diesel hit 7,167.60 zlotys on 30 September. Motyka rejected capping wholesale rates directly.

Prices of finished products are the highest in years, de facto the highest in their recorded history, so this is obviously very, very difficult today. We also do not want to interfere in the market, we do not want to interfere in wholesale prices. Without such intervention, it is practically impossible.

Currency movements and international markets

Global commodity indicators offered little relief on 5 October. While Brent crude dropped 0.8% to 101.40 dollars per barrel, the Polish zloty fell 0.6% to 3.93 zlotys per US dollar, erasing crude price gains. London diesel gained 0.7% to 1,389 dollars per tonne, while New York RBOB petrol fell 0.3% to 3.30 dollars per gallon. ING analysts attributed persistent high oil prices to Strait of Hormuz security risks, despite a planned 100-million-barrel emergency reserve release by G7 countries.