Poland's Energy Ministry Announces New Maximum Fuel Prices Effective April 1

Poland's Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka announced maximum fuel prices for Wednesday, April 1, 2026, setting the cap for 95 gasoline at 6.21 PLN per liter, 98 gasoline at 6.81 PLN per liter, and diesel oil at 7.66 PLN per liter, all figures inclusive of VAT. The announcement was published Tuesday in Monitor Polski, as required under the new price cap mechanism. Wednesday's prices will be higher than Tuesday's caps, which stood at 6.16 PLN for 95 gasoline, 6.76 PLN for 98 gasoline, and 7.60 PLN for diesel. The increases amount to 5 groszy per liter for both gasoline grades and 6 groszy per liter for diesel.

Maximum fuel price caps: Tuesday vs. Wednesday: 95 gasoline (PLN/liter) (before: 6.16 (Tuesday, March 31), after: 6.21 (Wednesday, April 1)); 98 gasoline (PLN/liter) (before: 6.76 (Tuesday, March 31), after: 6.81 (Wednesday, April 1)); Diesel oil (PLN/liter) (before: 7.60 (Tuesday, March 31), after: 7.66 (Wednesday, April 1))

Price formula ties caps to wholesale rates and margins The maximum price is calculated according to a specific formula that takes into account the average wholesale price of fuels on the domestic market, increased by excise duty, the fuel fee, a fixed sales margin of 0.30 PLN per liter, and VAT. The Ministry of Energy is required to publish a new maximum price announcement every day. When the announcement is made before non-working days or public holidays, the rate remains valid until the next working day. Stations found selling fuel above the maximum price face a fine of up to 1 million PLN. Compliance inspections will be conducted by the National Revenue Administration.

Three legal acts reshaped Poland's fuel market in days The price cap mechanism is the product of a rapid legislative sequence that unfolded over the final days of March 2026. An amendment to the act on crude oil stocks, which introduced the maximum price calculation mechanism, entered into force on Sunday, March 29. A regulation by the Minister of Finance and Economy reducing excise duty on fuels took effect on Monday, March 30, and will remain in force until April 15. Under that regulation, the reduced excise duty rate for gasolines stands at 1,239 PLN per 1,000 liters, while for diesel oils and biocomponents constituting independent fuels the rate is 880 PLN per 1,000 liters. A separate regulation reducing VAT to 8 percent on fuels, published Saturday evening, entered into force on Tuesday, March 31, and will apply through April 30.

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Legislation cleared parliament and presidential desk within days Poland has periodically deployed tax instruments to limit fuel price volatility, including temporary VAT reductions during periods of elevated global oil prices. The current package of measures — combining excise duty cuts, a VAT reduction, and a statutory price cap mechanism — represents a broader set of tools than those used in previous interventions. The excise duty amendment enables temporary reductions by ministerial regulation until June 30, 2026, providing the government with flexibility to extend relief beyond the current April 15 deadline if market conditions warrant. The draft legislation enabling the price controls was adopted by the government at an extraordinary cabinet meeting last Thursday and sent immediately to the Sejm. The lower house of parliament passed the changes on Friday, and the Senate supported them the same day. President Karol Nawrocki signed the acts on Friday, and they were published in the Journal of Laws on Saturday alongside two ministerial regulations on excise duty and VAT. The maximum price mechanism applies during the period of reduced VAT rates, which runs from March 31 through April 30, obliging all fuel-selling entities to apply prices no higher than the daily cap set by the Ministry of Energy.