Hungarian government imposes new fuel price caps and raises Széchenyi loan rates

The newly installed Tisza government announced that the protected price for gasoline will be limited to 595 forints per litre and diesel to 615 forints per litre. Minister Kapitány István may set the official price by decree if market conditions change dramatically. At the same time, the government adjusted the interest terms of the Széchenyi loan products, linking them to the three‑month Bubor rate, which was 5.89 % on 18 June. From 15 July, new contracts cannot use the former fixed 3 % rate and will start at the 5.89 % level, affecting many small and medium‑sized enterprises.

Separately, Hungarikum Alkusz – owned by Lőrinc Mészáros and Erik Keszthelyi – disclosed that it will charge a maximum of 5 % of the insurance premium to state and Budapest municipal clients, a sharp drop from the 30‑40 % it previously demanded. The company, which reported 2024 revenue of 28.5 billion forints and profit of 15 billion forints, said the change reflects the new government context and will impact state‑owned firms and municipal enterprises.