Poland Implements New Fuel Price Caps Amid Rising Global Oil Costs and US-Iran Tensions

Poland's Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka announced maximum fuel prices for Friday, April 3, 2026, setting the cap for 95-octane gasoline at 6.19 PLN per liter, 98-octane gasoline at 6.80 PLN per liter, and diesel at 7.64 PLN per liter — each slightly lower than Thursday's limits. The announcement came despite a sharp rise in global oil prices, with Brent crude climbing 7.6 percent to nearly 109 dollars per barrel following a speech by US President Donald Trump that signaled continued military engagement against Iran. The Polish zloty simultaneously weakened against the dollar by 0.7 percent to 3.7219 PLN, a combination that would normally push domestic fuel costs higher. The Friday caps represent a reduction of 4 groszy per liter for both gasoline grades and 1 grosz for diesel compared to Thursday's maximums, according to the Ministry of Energy announcement published in Monitor Polski.

2026-03-31: 6.16, 2026-04-01: 6.21, 2026-04-02: 6.23, 2026-04-03: 6.19

Pb95 gasoline: 6.19, Pb98 gasoline: 6.80, Diesel: 7.64

New price cap law took effect just days ago Poland's maximum fuel price mechanism entered force on March 31, 2026, through an amendment to the Act on Oil Stocks. The mechanism was introduced during a period of elevated global energy prices linked to the ongoing US-Israel military operation against Iran, which began on February 28, 2026, and which Iran responded to by blocking the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint through which approximately 20 percent of world oil trade passes. The Polish government also reduced excise duty on fuels starting March 30, 2026, with the reduction in effect until April 15. A separate regulation cut VAT on fuel to 8 percent for the period from March 31 to April 30, 2026. The maximum price formula, as defined by the new law, combines the average wholesale price of fuels on the domestic market with excise duty, a fuel fee, a sales margin of 0.30 PLN per liter, and VAT. The Ministry of Energy publishes a new announcement each day, with the rate taking effect the following day. When an announcement precedes non-working days or public holidays, the price cap remains valid until the next business day, meaning Friday's caps will hold through the Easter weekend. Selling fuel above the established maximum carries a penalty of up to 1 million PLN, with compliance inspections conducted by the National Revenue Administration. Motyka stated at a Wednesday press conference that Poland's fuel supply security was not at risk.

„We have these supplies fully secured. We do not see a risk related to the interruption of supplies.” — Miłosz Motyka via Business Insider

Market reaction to Trump's Iran speech drives wholesale prices up The sharp rise in Brent crude followed Trump's speech, which dispelled market expectations of an imminent peaceful resolution to the US-Israel conflict with Iran. On Thursday, April 2, Orlen actually lowered its wholesale prices compared to Wednesday, selling Pb95 gasoline at 5.43 PLN per liter and Ekodiesel at 6.77 PLN per liter, according to Business Insider. However, Orlen adjusts its wholesale prices to international diesel and gasoline indices with a one-day delay, meaning the Thursday market moves will feed into Friday pricing. April terminal contracts for diesel in London rose 12.2 percent on Thursday to 1.50 dollars per liter, outpacing the broader oil price increase of below 8 percent. Gasoline on international markets rose 6.7 percent. Drivers of diesel vehicles and operators of heavy transport are therefore expected to face a proportionally larger cost increase than gasoline car users.

109 (USD/barrel) — Brent crude price after Trump's Iran speech

Entrepreneurs and farmers lose out on VAT cut benefits While individual drivers are the primary beneficiaries of the government's price controls and tax reductions, entrepreneurs and farmers who are registered VAT payers face a different calculus. A lower VAT rate reduces the tax they can reclaim as input credit, which in practice limits or eliminates their real savings on fuel costs. Representatives of the transport sector warned that the industry was already under financial strain before the current price surge, and the VAT reduction structure may deepen that pressure. Farmers expressed similar concerns, with PSL member of parliament Marek Sawicki recounting that farmers in the Podlaskie region had been waiting for diesel to fall below 5 PLN per liter before stocking up for the summer harvest season. The government's price regulation did not extend to LPG, which is widely used by Polish drivers. Motyka said LPG prices would fall faster than gasoline or diesel prices once the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran concludes. A poll conducted by SW Research on April 1, 2026, using the online CAWI method among 800 adult respondents, found that 68.9 percent of Poles viewed the government's decision to regulate fuel prices positively, while 11.1 percent assessed it negatively and 20 percent said they could not clearly evaluate the measure.

68.9 (%) — Poles supporting government fuel price regulation (SW Research poll)

Maximum fuel prices: Thursday vs. Friday: Pb95 gasoline (before: 6.23 PLN/liter (Thu Apr 2), after: 6.19 PLN/liter (Fri Apr 3)); Pb98 gasoline (before: 6.84 PLN/liter (Thu Apr 2), after: 6.80 PLN/liter (Fri Apr 3)); Diesel (before: 7.65 PLN/liter (Thu Apr 2), after: 7.64 PLN/liter (Fri Apr 3))