Romania diesel excise duty: where it stands and what changes on 30 September 2026
Standard diesel sold in Romania has its excise duty cut by 25% under the mechanism in Legea nr. 162/2026. The cut is re-assessed every two weeks, and the crisis period the law defines ends on 31 October 2026. Below: the current figures, the arithmetic at the pump, and what each outcome would cost.
Diesel prices in Romania right now
Rompetrol, in Râmnicu Vâlcea
Live prices from 1,132 standard-diesel pumps in Romania · updated 1h 57min ago
EU Weekly Oil Bulletin, national average for the week of 14 September 2026 · published in EUR/L
The euro conversion uses the 18 September 2026 rate: EUR 1 = 5.2647 RON.
All live prices in Romania →What the excise duty is, and where it stands
Excise duty is a flat tax per litre, already inside the price on the pump display. It does not move with the price of oil: it is added as a fixed amount in lei, and VAT of 21% is then charged on everything — product, excise and margin alike. That is why a cut in excise only shows up at the pump if the supply chain passes it on.
The measure in Legea nr. 162/2026 covers standard diesel ONLY. Petrol excise is untouched: it stays at RON 3,059.80 per 1,000 litres.
| RON/1,000 L | RON/L, excl. VAT | RON/L, incl. 21% VAT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 2026 level (Tax Code) | 2,804.29 | 2.8043 | 3.3932 |
| Reduced level, in force 16 September 2026 – 30 September 2026 | 2,103.22 | 2.1032 | 2.5449 |
| The difference (the 25% cut) | −701.07 | −0.7011 | −0.8483 |
Standard level: Anexa nr. 1 la Codul fiscal, nivelurile pentru 2026 (Legea nr. 141/2025). Reduced level and the size of the cut: Ministerul Finanțelor, comunicat din 15 septembrie 2026.
What can happen on 30 September 2026
There are two different dates here, and they should not be confused.
30 September 2026 — the fortnightly review
The Ministry of Finance looks at the market indicators (VPM — the change in Platts diesel quotations, and VM — the change in the average pump price, on Competition Council data) and sets the size of the cut applicable to 1 October 2026 – 15 October 2026. The law allows 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% or 25%. At the last review VPM was +51.19% and VM +27.47%, and the cut stayed at 25%.
31 October 2026 — the crisis period in the law ends
Legea nr. 162/2026 declares the crisis situation for 7 August 2026 – 31 October 2026. The Government may extend it by decision, for periods of up to three months at a time. If it does not, the mechanism stops applying and excise returns to the standard Tax Code level.
We do not know what will be decided. This page does not forecast; it shows what the law allows and what each outcome would cost.
What it would mean at the pump
The arithmetic is in the open — excise is quoted per 1,000 litres, so divide by 1,000 for a litre, then apply VAT:
Δ price/litre (incl. VAT) = (new excise − current excise) ÷ 1,000 × 1.21Δ on a 50 L tank = Δ price/litre × 50
For example, if the cut disappeared altogether: (2,804.29 − 2,103.22) ÷ 1,000 = 0.7011 RON/L excluding VAT; × 1.21 = 0.8483 RON/L at the pump; × 50 L = 42.41 RON on a full tank.
| Cut | Excise (RON/1,000 L) | vs today, RON/L incl. VAT | On a 50 L tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| no cut | 2,804.29 | +0.8483 | +42.41 |
| −5% | 2,664.08 | +0.6786 | +33.93 |
| −10% | 2,523.86 | +0.5090 | +25.45 |
| −15% | 2,383.65 | +0.3393 | +16.97 |
| −20% | 2,243.43 | +0.1697 | +8.48 |
| −25% now | 2,103.22 | 0.0000 | 0.00 |
These figures show the effect of the TAX, assuming the change is passed on in full at the pump. The real price also depends on the product quotation, the exchange rate and each network’s margin — which is why the live price sits at the top of this page.
Timeline
-
4 August 2026Law 162/2026 published in the Official JournalA crisis situation on the crude oil and petroleum products market is declared for 7 August - 31 October 2026, together with the mechanism for a temporary diesel excise cut, in steps of 5-25%, re-evaluated every two weeks. — Monitorul Oficial, Partea I, nr. 642/4.08.2026
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16 August 2026First cut: 20% (16–31 August 2026)The Ministry of Finance cuts the standard diesel excise by 20% for the second half of August. — Ministerul Finanțelor
-
1 September 2026The cut rises to 25% (1–15 September 2026)After the biweekly review the cut moves from 20% to 25% - the maximum step the law allows. — Ministerul Finanțelor
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15 September 2026The cut stays at 25% (16–30 September 2026)VPM +51.19%, VM +27.47%. The effective excise stays at RON 2,103.22 per 1,000 litres, i.e. RON 2,489.05 per tonne. — Ministerul Finanțelor
Where the cheapest diesel in Romania is right now
The 5 cheapest pumps for standard diesel among the stations we track in Romania. Prices are as last reported, 1h 57min ago.
| # | Station | Town | Standard diesel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rompetrol | Râmnicu Vâlcea | 10.05 RON/L ≈ 1.909 EUR/L |
| 2 | Socar | Sibiu | 10.79 RON/L ≈ 2.049 EUR/L |
| 3 | Socar | Timișoara | 10.79 RON/L ≈ 2.049 EUR/L |
| 4 | Socar | Arad | 10.79 RON/L ≈ 2.049 EUR/L |
| 5 | Socar | 10.79 RON/L ≈ 2.049 EUR/L |
Across the border
The diesel price gap between Hungary and Romania, built from the same data.
Hungary → Romania: the diesel gap →Frequently asked questions
- What is the diesel excise duty in Romania right now?
- Between 16 September 2026 and 30 September 2026, standard diesel excise is RON 2,103.22 per 1,000 litres — that is RON 2.1032 per litre excluding VAT and RON 2.5449 per litre including 21% VAT. It is the standard Tax Code level (RON 2,804.29 per 1,000 L) reduced by 25%, under Legea nr. 162/2026.
- Will diesel get more expensive from 1 October 2026?
- It is not yet known. The Ministry of Finance sets the size of the cut for 1 October 2026 – 15 October 2026 at the review expected around 30 September 2026. If the cut stays at 25%, excise does not change. If it is reduced or removed, excise rises by up to RON 0.8483 per litre including VAT. This page updates when the decision is published.
- How much more would a 50-litre tank cost if the cut went?
- RON 42.41, if the tax change is passed on in full at the pump: RON 0.7011 per litre excluding VAT, RON 0.8483 per litre including 21% VAT, times 50 litres.
- Does the cut apply to petrol as well?
- No. The mechanism in Legea nr. 162/2026 covers standard diesel only. Petrol excise stays at the standard Tax Code level, RON 3,059.80 per 1,000 litres.
- How long does the excise cut last?
- The current decision covers 16 September 2026 – 30 September 2026. The mechanism itself belongs to the crisis period declared by Legea nr. 162/2026 for 7 August 2026 – 31 October 2026; the Government may extend it by decision, for periods of up to three months. Without an extension, excise returns to RON 2,804.29 per 1,000 L.
Sources
- Legea nr. 162/2026 — Monitorul Oficial, Partea I, nr. 642 din 4 august 2026 · lege5.ro
- 4 Aug 2026 — Law 162/2026 published in the Official Journal · Monitorul Oficial, Partea I, nr. 642/4.08.2026
- 16 Aug 2026 — First cut: 20% (16–31 August 2026) · Ministerul Finanțelor
- 1 Sept 2026 — The cut rises to 25% (1–15 September 2026) · Ministerul Finanțelor
- 15 Sept 2026 — The cut stays at 25% (16–30 September 2026) · Ministerul Finanțelor
- Anexa nr. 1 la Codul fiscal, nivelurile pentru 2026 (Legea nr. 141/2025)
- EU Weekly Oil Bulletin — 14 September 2026