- Diesel rose 1.09 RON/L in 10 days; gasoline up 0.04 RON/L.
- Record gap hits 2.40 RON/L between gasoline and diesel.
- Diesel 50L tank cost jumped 54.50 RON to 452 RON (13.7%).
- Oct 10 Bucharest prices varied by network (Petrom, OMV, Rompetrol, MOL, Lukoil).
Year 2022 brought sustained increases in the cost of living in Romania, driven mainly by higher fuel costs. The depreciation of the leu against strong currencies amplified this trend, eroding the population’s purchasing power. In this challenging economic context, Romania faces an unprecedented situation: the largest fuel price gap ever recorded between gasoline and diesel.
International authorities warned throughout 2022 that the world was moving toward an unavoidable economic crisis, for which the population was not prepared to respond. For Romania, the situation is even tougher as the country sits near the bottom of EU income rankings, while fuel prices have reached levels typical of developed EU countries.
Recent fuel price trends in Romania
During the period October 1–9, 2022, the Romanian fuel market experienced an unexpected evolution. According to data from peco-online.ro, diesel recorded an alarming rise of 1.09 RON per liter in just 10 days, while gasoline remained relatively stable, increasing by only 0.04 RON per liter in the same interval.
Average prices recorded for gasoline:
- October 1, 2022: 6.60 RON/liter
- October 9, 2022: 6.64 RON/liter
- Increase: 0.04 RON/liter
Average prices recorded for diesel:
- October 1, 2022: 7.95 RON/liter
- October 9, 2022: 9.04 RON/liter
- Increase: 1.09 RON/liter
This evolution led to a record 2.40 RON per liter gap between the two fuels, an unprecedented phenomenon in the history of the Romanian fuel market.
Financial impact on consumers
To better understand the impact of these increases, let’s analyze the cost of a full tank (50 liters) of diesel:
- On October 1, 2022: 397.50 RON
- On October 9, 2022: 452.00 RON
- Difference: 54.50 RON (13.7% increase)
This means that, in just 10 days, a driver using diesel paid more than 54 RON extra for a full tank. For professionals who rely on diesel-powered vehicles (taxi drivers, couriers, transport operators) and refuel frequently, the monthly financial impact becomes substantial.
Fuel prices on major markets in Romania
Bucharest — October 10, 2022
In the capital, fuel prices (with a 0.50 RON per liter discount applied) vary by network:
PETROM:
- Gasoline standard: 6.58-6.65 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.04-7.11 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.01-8.04 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.37-8.40 RON/liter
OMV:
- Gasoline standard: 6.70-6.73 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.34-7.39 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.09-8.12 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.60-8.63 RON/liter
ROMPETROL:
- Gasoline standard: 6.65-6.69 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.29-7.34 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.04-8.08 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.37-8.58 RON/liter
MOL:
- Gasoline standard: 6.67-6.71 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.32-7.37 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.06-8.10 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.60-8.61 RON/liter
LUKOIL:
- Gasoline standard: 6.57-6.62 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 6.74-7.32 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.00-8.03 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.36-8.39 RON/liter
SOCAR:
- Gasoline standard: 6.64 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.24 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.04-8.06 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.39-8.46 RON/liter
Cluj-Napoca — October 10, 2022
In Cluj-Napoca, prices are similar to Bucharest with small variations:
PETROM:
- Gasoline standard: 6.63 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.09 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.04 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.40 RON/liter
OMV:
- Gasoline standard: 6.69 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.35 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.10 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.61 RON/liter
ROMPETROL:
- Gasoline standard: 6.65 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.29-7.31 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.06 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.39-8.57 RON/liter
MOL:
- Gasoline standard: 6.67 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.33 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.08 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.59 RON/liter
LUKOIL:
- Gasoline standard: 6.60 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 6.75-7.30 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.03 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.39 RON/liter
SOCAR:
- Gasoline standard: 6.64 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.24 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.06 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.46 RON/liter
Timisoara — October 10, 2022
Timisoara shows a slightly wider price range due to more intense competition among stations:
PETROM:
- Gasoline standard: 6.61 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.07 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.04 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.40 RON/liter
OMV:
- Gasoline standard: 6.67-6.69 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.31-7.35 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.10-8.15 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.61-8.66 RON/liter
ROMPETROL:
- Gasoline standard: 6.63-6.65 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.29-7.31 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.06-8.11 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.59-8.62 RON/liter
MOL:
- Gasoline standard: 6.65-6.67 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.31-7.33 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.08-8.13 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.59-8.64 RON/liter
LUKOIL:
- Gasoline standard: 6.58 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.28 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.03 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.39 RON/liter
SOCAR:
- Gasoline standard: 6.59 RON/liter
- Gasoline premium: 7.19 RON/liter
- Diesel standard: 8.04-8.09 RON/liter
- Diesel premium: 8.44-8.49 RON/liter
Contextul economic și inflația
The National Bank of Romania issued several warnings throughout 2022 regarding inflation. In February, the NBR forecast inflation at 14.3% for the April–June interval, even after applying caps and compensation for gas and electricity bills.
The NBR’s projections indicated that inflationary pressures were expected to persist into the summer, with the inflation rate around 10%. By May 2022, the central bank had raised its inflation forecast to 12.5% for the end of the year, and 6.7% for the end of the following year.
The war in Ukraine played a crucial role in accelerating inflation, generating additional pressure on production costs. These costs were quickly transmitted into final prices for goods and services, including fuels.
Factors explaining the record gap between gasoline and diesel
There are several factors contributing to this unprecedented situation:
Seasonal demand: The autumn period typically coincides with a rise in diesel demand for heating (heating fuel) and for transportation.
Market structure: Romania has a high share of diesel-powered vehicles in its vehicle fleet, which creates strong internal demand for diesel.
Refining and logistics: Diesel production requires different refining processes than gasoline, and its costs can vary independently.
International context: Sanctions on Russia and the reorganization of flows of oil and refined products globally have affected the two markets differently.
Speculation: In periods of high volatility, speculative factors can amplify price fluctuations.
Impact on the Romanian economy
High diesel costs have a multiplier effect across the economy:
Freight transport: Higher diesel costs directly affect transport costs, which are then passed on to final product prices.
Agriculture: Agricultural machinery runs mainly on diesel, and higher costs affect farm profitability.
Services: From courier to construction, many sectors rely on diesel-powered vehicles and are affected by price increases.
Mobility: For households owning diesel vehicles, transport costs have risen significantly, reducing budget available for other expenses.
Fuel market outlook
In the current geopolitical context, marked by the war in Ukraine and the restructuring of global energy markets, fuel price volatility is likely to persist in the near term. Government support measures, such as the 0.50 RON per liter reduction, provide temporary relief but do not address the market’s structural problems.
For consumers, the current situation underscores the importance of efficiency in consumption and careful planning of fuel expenditures. The record gap between gasoline and diesel prices may lead some drivers to reconsider engine choice at the next vehicle purchase, taking into account long-term operating costs.
Photo source: romaniatv.net