"The unnaturally high fuel prices maintained by domestic retailers makes refuelling in the eurozone cheaper than in Poland. Lower prices can be seen just across the German border and in the Austrian Alps. In Barcelona, diesel oil can easily be found below 4.50 PLN/litre, i.e. by over 0.50 PLN cheaper than the average in Poland," writes Marcin Lipka, Conotoxia Senior Analyst.
1.26 PLN, that's how much a litre of unleaded petrol on the European wholesale market cost on the last day of the previous year. This is the lowest price since August 2016 and by 0.75 PLN net below the average price from mid-May to early October.
Diesel is worth 1.65 PLN on the ARA (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) market. This is 0.60 PLN less than the average price of this fuel from mid-August to the beginning of November 2018.
Although on the wholesale market prices have fallen tremendously, the cost of fuel for Polish drivers has been falling very slowly. As a result, despite much lower taxes than in the eurozone, there are more and more places like Germany, Austria or Spain, where fuels, especially diesel, are much cheaper than in Poland.
Diesel less than 5 PLN in Berlin, even cheaper close to the Polish border
Due to the holiday season, the European Commission hasn't published weekly readings on fuel prices in the EU, therefore, this time we are using "FuelFlash" data. The service updates prices practically live and has more than one million downloads.
It shows that a litre of diesel at petrol stations (excluding those belonging to supermarkets) can cost only 1.14 euro in Berlin (i.e. 4.90 PLN). This is not a mistake, at least at 14 stations in the German capital diesel costs less than 1.16 euro (or 5.00 PLN). Interestingly, in the group of these stations with the cheapest fuel several outlets belong to the largest oil company in Poland.
Even cheaper fuel can be found at the border with Poland (e.g. in Frankfurt (Oder)). Only 2.5 km from the border crossing in Slubice at the station of a French fuel company, diesel costs 1.11 EUR ( 4.77 PLN). At stations located close to supermarkets we can buy diesel for even 1.09 EUR, i.e. less than 4.70 PLN - according to FuelFlash data.
For cheaper fuel go to the Austrian Alps or Barcelona
If you go to Austria by car for some fun in the snow, you have to consider whether it is worth filling up in Poland. This is especially true for owners of cars with a diesel engine.
In Salzburg, at most petrol stations, diesel costs 1.11-1.15 EUR (4.78-4.94 PLN). At a supermarket, diesels can be refuelled for as little as 1.10 EUR, i.e. 4.73 PLN. In the case of unleaded petrol, it can be said that prices are similar to those in Poland. In the region of Salzburg, they are mostly between 1.10 and 1.15 EUR (4.73-4.94 PLN).
As in Salzburg, the prices in Innsbruck and Graz are similar, i.e. diesel is significantly cheaper than in Poland, and petrol costs almost the same.
If you prefer warmer regions instead of the icy mountains, you should not be shocked by the fuel prices in Spain. In Barcelona, according to FuelFlash data, we can refuel diesel even for 1.02 EUR (4.38 PLN). Several stations in the capital of Catalonia offers this fuel in the range of 1.02-1.06 euro (4.38-4.55 PLN). However, in real life, we can expect that filling up on diesel in this city (there is a considerable spread of prices) costs about 1.10 EUR (4.73 PLN). It is, as in Austria, much cheaper than in Poland.
