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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]

2 clusters · 50 sources · 14 days · First seen 19 days ago · Last updated 5 days ago

Categories: BUSINESS

Croatia fuel price hike and blue‑diesel shortages

Entities: Republic of Croatia · INA · European Union · Petrol · European Union Council

Overview

In late July 2026 Croatia ended a two‑week emergency decree that had capped retail fuel prices and introduced a new temporary price regime. The cabinet fixed maximum retail prices at €1.62 per litre for gasoline, €1.75 per litre for diesel, €1.21 per litre for blue diesel and set UNP fuel caps at €1.28 €/kg for containers and €1.86 €/kg for bottles. Prices rose €0.08 for gasoline, €0.16 for diesel and €0.19 for blue diesel, but the increase was partly offset by a €0.01‑per‑litre cut to gasoline excise duty and a €0.04‑per‑litre cut to diesel excise duty. The EU Council granted Croatia permission to keep excise taxes below the EU minimum for six months, giving the government leeway to temper further price spikes.

State‑owned distributors INA and Petrol imposed a temporary limit of 300 litres per transaction at non‑highway stations, while motorway stations remained unrestricted. Demand for blue diesel stayed roughly five times higher than a year earlier, leading to occasional shortages and long queues.

Transport, agricultural and industrial groups warned that higher fuel costs could raise transport fees by 5‑10 % and push food and consumer‑goods prices upward, though Minister of Labour Alen Ružić stressed that Croatian fuel prices remain substantially lower than in Sweden, Germany and Italy. The situation unfolds alongside Croatia’s ongoing expansion of LNG‑terminal capacity and neighbouring Slovenia’s continued suspension of its energy‑efficiency levy.

Coverage disagrees

Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.

"EU approved Croatia's request to temporarily cut fuel excise taxes, allowing reductions of up to €0.2195 per litre for gasoline and €0.225 per litre for diesel." (EU decision)

vs

"Excise duties on diesel were reduced by €0.04 per litre and on gasoline by €0.01 per litre; fuel premiums were also lowered." (government_statement)

One claim says excise duties were reduced by €0.01 per litre for gasoline and €0.04 for diesel, while the other says the EU-approved cuts allow reductions of up to €0.2195 per litre for gasoline and €

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[DISPUTED] Excise duties on diesel were reduced by €0.04 per litre and on gasoline by €0.01 per litre; fuel premiums were also lowered. (government_statement)
[DISPUTED] EU approved Croatia's request to temporarily cut fuel excise taxes, allowing reductions of up to €0.2195 per litre for gasoline and €0.225 per litre for diesel. (EU decision)
[● 11 SOURCES] Croatian government set new maximum retail fuel prices of €1.62 per litre for gasoline, €1.75 per litre for diesel and €1.21 per litre for blue diesel.
[● 11 SOURCES] Without the government's measures, the same fuels would cost €1.77 per litre for gasoline, €1.94 for diesel and €1.28 for blue diesel.
[● 7 SOURCES] If the government does not intervene, the price of Eurosuper could rise to €1.64 per litre. (existing)
[● 6 SOURCES] Transport association president Branko Trstenjački warned that higher fuel costs will force transport firms to raise service prices. (association statement)
[● 5 SOURCES] The Croatian government will continue measures to protect citizens from global energy market disruptions. (government policy)
[● 5 SOURCES] Croatia increased LNG terminal capacity to improve energy security. (government_statement)
[● 5 SOURCES] Alen Ružić said Croatian gasoline prices are 40 % lower than Sweden, 33 % lower than Germany and 22 % lower than Italy. (minister_quote)
[● 5 SOURCES] Demand for blue diesel is about five times higher than a year ago, creating temporary shortages and long queues. (industry_report)
[● 5 SOURCES] Transport and logistics groups expect transport service prices to rise by 7‑10 % and food prices to increase up to 14 % because of higher fuel costs. (Estimates from transport and logistics representatives.)

Timeline

5 days ago

[BUSINESS] 43 sources
Croatia sets new fuel price caps and limits sales amid price surge
Croatia caps retail fuel prices, cuts excise duties and gets EU approval to go below EU minima; INA and Petrol limit sales to 300 L per transaction as blue‑diesel demand spikes five‑fold.
19 days ago

[BUSINESS] 12 sources
Croatian government caps fuel prices, diesel up 5 cents
Croatia set 14‑day fuel price caps: gasoline €1.54/L unchanged, diesel €1.59/L, blue diesel €1.02/L; taxes cut €0.01/L and margins €0.02/L. Highway stations charge 6‑23 cents more per litre.

Sources

aktuelno.me · automobili.hr · autoszektor.hu · bug.hr · dalmacijadanas.hr · dalmacijanews.hr · dalmatinskiportal.hr · dnevno.hr · dubrovackidnevnik.net.hr · dubrovniknet.hr · dulist.hr · emedjimurje.hr · eventbrite.co.uk · financije.hr · glas-slavonije.hr · glasistre.hr · hrvatska-danas.com · index.hr · jutarnji.hr · koha.mk · kuruc.info · lavoce.hr · m.24sata.hr · m.tportal.hr · mahaim.ch · maribor24.si · meta.mk · n1info.hr · nezavisen.mk · nova24tv.si · novac.jutarnji.hr · novamakedonija.com.mk · optimalis.hu · piacesprofit.hu · poslovni.hr · press24.mk · republika.mk · slobodenpecat.mk · sport1.ba · srbijadanas.com · telegram.hr · times.si · tportal.hr · varazdinski.net.hr · ve.lt · vecernji.ba · vecernji.hr · vijesti.hrt.hr

This summary has been updated 7 times: see revision history