Poland's fuel price cap scheme expires, ending weekend of low prices

Poland’s "Ceny Paliwa Niżej" (CPN) programme, which set maximum retail prices for gasoline, premium gasoline and diesel, formally ends on Monday 15 June. For the weekend of 12‑14 June the caps were 6.04 zł per litre for Pb95, 6.58 zł for Pb98 and 6.40 zł for diesel, slightly higher than the previous day’s limits. The package, introduced on 31 March, reduced VAT to 8 % and cut excise duties to the EU minimum, lowering fuel prices by more than 1 zł per litre for diesel.

The government has not yet decided whether to extend the caps. Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka said analyses are ongoing and that the programme costs about 1.6 billion zł per month, with possible financing from a planned tax on extraordinary profits. Finance Minister Andrzej Domański confirmed that the situation is being closely monitored and a decision is expected by the end of the week. Retailers who exceed the limits face fines up to 1 million zł, enforced by the National Tax Administration.

Analysts forecast that, if the anticipated U.S.–Iran agreement materialises, fuel prices could fall further in the week of 15‑21 June, putting the future of the CPN scheme under question.