Hungary fuel price crisis

In late July 2026 independent stations began suspending diesel sales as wholesale prices surged, while larger networks kept retail prices relatively stable, straining smaller operators. The government then ended its protected fuel‑price scheme, pushing gasoline and diesel above the former caps. Renewed Middle‑East tensions lifted Brent crude above $80 per barrel, heightening motorists’ cost concerns.

The M1 motorway is projected to see a 30‑50 % traffic increase from August to mid‑September as guest workers return and lane‑expansion work proceeds, prompting authorities to advise drivers to avoid weekend travel and to stock water and fuel for critical sections.

Prime Minister Péter Magyar later highlighted that Hungary’s average gasoline (≈598 Ft/l) and diesel (≈653 Ft/l) prices remain 29‑35 Ft lower than the regional average, yet still above the previous cap. The price gap raises the risk of cross‑border “fuel tourism,” especially from Austria. Supply constraints are acute: the Iranian‑Ukrainian conflict removed about 25 % of global diesel, Russian export cuts account for another 10‑13 %, low Danube water levels limit barge deliveries, and the Mol refinery can produce only 230 million L of the 356 million L diesel needed in August, relying on 95 million L imports from Slovakia while halting its own exports. The government is considering measures to curb fuel tourism and protect domestic supply.