Polish fuel prices near 8 PLN for petrol and 9 PLN for diesel as Sejm passes windfall tax

Retail prices climb across Poland

Fuel retail prices across Poland have climbed near all-time peaks following consecutive weeks of price increases. According to monitoring data from analytical office Reflex, the national average price for Pb95 petrol reached 7.97 PLN per litre by 17 September 2026, matching its record from June 2022. Reflex recorded average diesel prices at 9.00 PLN per litre, while liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) reached 3.09 PLN per litre, remaining 75 groszy below its high recorded on 9 April 2026. Data published on 18 September 2026 by industry portal e-petrol.pl tracked petrol E10 at 7.99 PLN per litre after a 10-groszy increase over seven days. In the same weekly period, e-petrol.pl recorded diesel at 8.89 PLN per litre following a 14-groszy rise, while autogas reached 3.10 PLN per litre after gaining 13 groszy.

Wholesale costs and global supply issues

The increase at retail pumps reflects mounting pressure in the wholesale market, driven by foreign refinery prices and currency shifts. Figures published on 18 September 2026 showed that net wholesale Pb95 petrol at Polish refineries reached 6,370.40 PLN per cubic metre, up 292.60 PLN from the prior Friday. Diesel wholesale prices increased by 341.60 PLN over the same period to 7,509.20 PLN per cubic metre, while Pb98 wholesale stood at 7,133.60 PLN per cubic metre. Analysts from Reflex attributed these movements to disruptions in crude transport infrastructure and zloty valuation against foreign currencies.

The situation on the domestic fuel market remains strictly dependent on events in the Middle East. Following the halt of oil exports resulting from damage to the East-West pipeline in Saudi Arabia, finished fuel prices on the European ARA market rose to record levels. With the simultaneous weakening of the zloty, wholesale fuel prices increased, driving station prices to record levels.

Price projections for late September

Market analysts anticipate that retail rates will move higher during the week of 21 to 27 September 2026. Industry portal e-petrol.pl projects that 95-octane petrol will trade between 7.97 and 8.11 PLN per litre, while diesel will move within a band of 8.99 to 9.28 PLN per litre. For high-octane Pb98 petrol, e-petrol.pl expects prices between 8.83 and 8.99 PLN per litre, with autogas expected between 3.10 and 3.21 PLN per litre. Reflex separately forecasts average pump prices of 7.99 PLN per litre for Pb95, 8.85 PLN per litre for Pb98, 9.09 PLN per litre for diesel, and 3.19 PLN per litre for autogas.

In the second half of September, we expect to see the psychological barrier of 8 PLN for petrol and 9 PLN for diesel fuel broken at fuel stations.

Parliamentary response and windfall tax

In response to the price pressures, the Sejm voted on 18 September 2026 to pass legislation taxing extraordinary profits of fuel corporations. The bill passed the lower house of parliament with 237 votes in favour, 202 against, one abstention, and 20 deputies not voting. Under amendments introduced by the Civic Coalition (KO), the windfall tax applies to profits generated between March 2026 and March 2027, extending the initial draft timetable that ended in December 2026. Revenue generated by the levy is designated to finance the government CPN fuel affordability scheme ("Ceny Paliwa Niżej"). The vote represents a second attempt by the parliamentary majority to implement the measure, after President Karol Nawrocki referred an earlier statutory version to the Constitutional Tribunal for preventive review in July 2026.