Turkey diesel fuel price tops 70 lira per litre amid new tax hike

Several Turkish fuel stations reported a night‑time increase of about 3.08 TL per litre for motorin, raising the total weekly rise to over 5 TL. The surge pushed diesel prices in Istanbul, Ankara and İzmir above the 70 TL mark, with some eastern provinces reaching even higher levels. The price jump follows global oil market volatility, exchange‑rate swings and recent adjustments to the special mobile tax system (EŞEL), under which any discount on motorin is offset by an equivalent increase in the ÖTV (special consumption tax), meaning the expected cut will not be passed on to consumers at the pump. Earlier announcements of a 2.16 TL discount were nullified by a presidential decree that ties discount amounts to a matching ÖTV rise. These developments are expected to keep diesel costs elevated in the short term, affecting drivers and transport‑dependent businesses across Turkey.