24. Sep 2026
Starting October 1, 2026, the Czech Ministry of Finance is introducing a daily cap on retail petrol and diesel prices, calculated from the average exchange price plus a regulated trading margin of CZK 2.50 per litre. At the same time, the excise duty on diesel drops from CZK 9.95 to CZK 8.011 per litre — just under two crowns less per litre (plus VAT). Petrol is unaffected. The government is pairing this with a windfall tax on refiners equal to 50% of their margin increase versus 2025, expected to bring in roughly CZK 5.5 billion this year.
The move comes after weeks of diesel prices climbing noticeably due to squeezed refining capacity across Europe. The current average diesel price sits around CZK 49 per litre. The measures are so far only in effect through the end of October 2026, so it's worth watching whether the government extends them. For cost planning on regular routes, it's safer to treat this as short-term relief rather than a lasting price drop.