Poland Enforces Maximum Fuel Prices as Part of New Energy Stabilization Program

Poland's government-set maximum fuel prices took effect on April 2, 2026, with Pb95 gasoline capped at 6.23 PLN per liter, 98-octane gasoline at 6.84 PLN per liter, and diesel at 7.65 PLN per liter, all prices inclusive of VAT. The limits represent a slight upward adjustment for gasoline compared to the previous day — Pb95 rose by 2 grosze and Pb98 by 3 grosze — while diesel fell by 1 grosz. The caps are published daily by Minister of Energy Miłosz Motyka in the official Monitor Polski and take effect the following business day. The daily price-setting mechanism is a central element of the government's CPN package, which also includes a reduction of VAT to 8% and lower excise duty rates. The scheme was introduced on March 31, 2026, ahead of the Easter holiday period, with the stated aim of cushioning consumers from the effects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on global oil markets.

Before the CPN package took effect, retail fuel prices in Poland had risen sharply in the preceding weeks. According to e-petrol.pl, a liter of Pb95 cost an average of 7.14 PLN and diesel reached a record 8.69 PLN in the week before the intervention. The price spike was linked to the conflict in the Middle East, which disrupted global oil supply expectations. The CPN mechanism operates by calculating a daily ceiling based on the arithmetic average of wholesale fuel prices from the previous business day, to which excise duty, VAT, a fuel fee, and a fixed sales margin of 0.30 PLN per liter are added.

Market prices already falling below government ceilings Data published by fuel price monitoring service e-petrol.pl showed that some filling stations were already selling fuel below the government-mandated maximums in the first days of the scheme. According to e-petrol.pl's survey conducted on March 31 and April 1, the average retail price of Pb95 across Poland stood at 6.16 PLN per liter, while diesel averaged 7.54 PLN per liter — both below the respective ceilings. Regional variation was also recorded: the cheapest Pb95 was found in Upper Silesia at an average of 6.09 PLN per liter, while the most expensive was in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship at 6.16 PLN per liter. For diesel, the lowest prices were in Warmia and Mazury at 7.50 PLN per liter, and the highest in Lesser Poland at 7.57 PLN per liter. Autogas (LPG) was not covered by the CPN package and continued to rise, reaching an average of 3.69 PLN per liter on Wednesday, up from 3.64 PLN the previous week.

2026-04-01: 6.21, 2026-04-02: 6.23

Pb95 gasoline: 6.23, Pb98 gasoline: 6.84, Diesel (ON): 7.65

Wholesale data hints the price peak may be over Wholesale prices at Orlen showed a downward trend from late March, according to Business Insider's analysis of the company's published rates. On April 1, a cubic meter of Pb95 gasoline cost 5,466 PLN at wholesale — down from 5,733 PLN on March 21, though slightly up on a daily basis by 16 PLN. Diesel (Ekodiesel) stood at 6,782 PLN per cubic meter on April 1, a clear decline from 7,258 PLN recorded earlier. Analysts cautioned, however, that the trajectory of prices remains uncertain given the ongoing instability in the Middle East. Business Insider noted that some signals suggest U.S. President Donald Trump may seek to end the war in Iran, but further escalation cannot be ruled out. The Easter holiday period adds further pressure, as fuel demand at Polish stations traditionally rises as families travel.

Ten violations recorded on the first day of enforcement The National Revenue Administration (KAS) recorded 10 violations on March 31, the first day the maximum price rules were in force, according to Fakt24. Stations found selling above the legal ceiling face fines of up to 1 million PLN. The enforcement mechanism runs in parallel with the tax reduction elements of the CPN package. Former Orlen chief executive and current Member of the European Parliament Daniel Obajtek publicly addressed Minister Motyka on the fuel price situation, according to Niezalezna.pl, though the substance of his remarks was described only as an appeal on behalf of citizens. The scheme's impact has not been uniformly welcomed: Kamila, an entrepreneur from Kołobrzeg quoted by Fakt24, said businesses that can fully deduct VAT effectively lose out from the VAT reduction, since their real fuel cost is determined by the net price rather than the gross retail figure. „As an entrepreneur, I am not satisfied with this government fuel policy, because I lose out on it due to the VAT reduction” — Kamila via FAKT24.pl