Since 1 October 2026 a government-set price cap on motor fuels has applied in Czechia; after its introduction diesel became cheaper at petrol stations, while petrol did so only in places.
On 1 October 2026 a price regulation of motor fuels set by the Ministry of Finance took effect in Czechia. The maximum price of diesel was set at CZK 48.72 per litre and that of petrol at CZK 46.14 per litre. The measure applies to petrol stations across the country and is the government's second intervention in fuel prices in 2026; the first time, from April to mid-July, the government regulated prices by capping sellers' margins and lowering the excise duty on diesel[1][2].
Impact on prices
On the very first day of the regulation, diesel at petrol stations became cheaper, according to findings by the Czech News Agency, often by up to three koruna per litre and exceptionally by more; on the D5 motorway at Šlovice near Plzeň the price of diesel fell by CZK 4.18 in a day[1]. Petrol became cheaper only at some stations, because many of them had already been selling it on Wednesday 30 September at a price lower than the newly set cap[1][3]. On the Wednesday before the regulation was introduced, the best-selling Natural 95 petrol cost an average of CZK 45.86 per litre in Czechia and diesel CZK 49.44 per litre, according to data from the company CCS[1].
Examples from petrol stations
The Shell station in Prague's Chodov cut the price of diesel from CZK 51.90 to 48.70 per litre and of petrol from 46.90 to 46.10, just below the set caps[1][3]. Diesel was also made cheaper by OMV stations in Prague, Orlen in Hradec Králové and on the D5 near Plzeň, MOL in Olomouc and Třebíč, and the stations at Makro wholesale stores in Ostrava-Hrabová and near Velká Bystřice in the Olomouc area, where diesel became cheaper by roughly three koruna[1][2][3]. The Orlen station on the D10 motorway near Mladá Boleslav cut the price of diesel from CZK 52.50 to exactly 48.72 and of petrol from 47.90 to 46.14, that is, to the permitted maximum[2]. The state-owned EuroOil network operated by the company Čepro sold fuel below the set cap: diesel in Mladá Boleslav cost CZK 47.50 per litre, and petrol stayed at the same price as before the regulation, CZK 45.50[2].
Regional differences
On the Wednesday before the cap was introduced, petrol was cheapest in the Liberec Region (CZK 45.58) and most expensive in Prague (CZK 46.36); diesel was cheapest in southern Moravia and in the Karlovy Vary Region (CZK 49.33) and most expensive in the Olomouc Region (CZK 49.6)[1]. In Liberec, prices at the pumps mostly fell after the regulation was introduced, but some of the cheapest stations raised them; at the petrol stations on the through road, the price of petrol mostly fell from CZK 46.90 to the permitted maximum of CZK 46.14 per litre[1].
Context of the regulation
The Ministry of Finance intends to set the caps for individual days at least until the end of October 2026, on the basis of a moving three-day average of wholesale prices to which a traders' maximum margin, capped at CZK 2.50 per litre, is added[2][3]. The measure also includes a reduction of the excise duty on diesel from CZK 9.95 to 8.011 per litre, while the excise duty on petrol does not change[3]. According to the government, the rise in fuel prices is linked to the conflict in the Middle East, where in February 2026 the USA together with Israel attacked Iran, which in response restricted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz[2].
Related articles: Ministry of Finance
Chronology
- — The Ministry of Finance adjusted the maximum fuel prices for the weekend: the cap on diesel fell slightly, while the cap on petrol rose. ČTK / České noviny Echo24
- — After the introduction of a price cap, diesel at filling stations became cheaper by up to three crowns, petrol only in places. ČTK / České noviny Novinky.cz
- — The Ministry of Finance set the price cap for 1 October 2026 at CZK 48.72 per litre of diesel and CZK 46.14 per litre of petrol. ČTK / České noviny ČT24
Pages linking here
Adjustment of the caps for the weekend of 3–5 October 2026
According to the Price Bulletin, the Ministry of Finance lowered the maximum price of diesel by four hellers to CZK 48.54 per litre and raised the cap for petrol by five hellers to CZK 45.97 per litre. The adjustment applies over the weekend and on Monday and does not cover premium fuels.[4]
The ministry intends to regulate prices until the end of October. It calculates the maximum price from a moving three-day average of wholesale prices and adds a trade margin capped at CZK 2.50 per litre. Compliance with the caps is to be checked by the Specializovaný finanční úřad. Since the beginning of October the excise duty on diesel has also been reduced from CZK 9.95 to 8.011 per litre.[4]
The ministry publishes the prices every working day for the following day; on non-working days the most recently announced price applies. It called on petrol station operators to resort to the highest prices only exceptionally.[5]
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 1 October 2026
- Novinky.cz — 1 October 2026
- Blesk.cz — 1 October 2026
- Echo24
- Novinky.cz