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IMF updates Balkan economic forecasts amid regional fuel price volatility
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released updated economic forecasts for several Balkan nations. In Montenegro, the IMF projects GDP growth of 3% this year and 2.8% next year, with inflation expected to decrease from 3.5% to 3.3%. In North Macedonia, the IMF raised its 2026 growth forecast to 3.5%, driven largely by the construction sector.
Fuel price volatility remains a critical issue across the region. In Montenegro, diesel prices have reached record highs, prompting calls from political figures like Mile Radovanić to reduce VAT to alleviate the burden on citizens. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, experts warn that diesel could reach 5 KM per liter if global oil prices hit $200 per barrel due to transport and refining costs. Meanwhile, in Slovenia, regulated fuel prices saw a minor decrease of 0.2 cents per liter, though the government is seeking EU permission to lower taxes further.
In Poland, the government continues to implement the ‘Lower Fuel Prices’ package, utilizing a tax on windfall profits from fuel companies to fund subsidies. This includes maximum price limits for gasoline and diesel to mitigate the impact of global energy market instability.
Entities
Andrzej Domański · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · CPN · Donald Tusk · European Union · International Monetary Fund · Karol Nawrocki · Ministry of Energy · Miłosz Motyka · Montenegro · North Macedonia
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Diesel prices in Poland will decrease by 4 groszy per liter on Tuesday. niezalezna.pl
- [● 2 SOURCES] President Karol Nawrocki signed a law introducing a windfall tax on fuel companies. niezalezna.pl
- [● 2 SOURCES] Maximum prices for gasoline 95 and 98 will increase in Poland on Tuesday. niezalezna.pl
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The windfall tax on fuel companies is set at 60 percent of excess profits. niezalezna.pl