Price increases continue to weigh on drivers as fuel costs climb on Spanish roads. With millions choosing to travel during the peak summer period, households face higher bills as prices have risen for seven straight weeks during the high season, according to European price records reported by the Commission.
Gasoline prices have climbed beyond average levels, pushing per-liter costs above 1.70 euros for the first time in a year after a further 1% increase last week, based on the latest data from the European Union Petroleum Bulletin. A significant price jump had not been recorded at Spanish service stations since early August of the previous year, although the government’s 20-cent-per-liter reduction remained in effect at the time.
Diesel—the fuel most commonly used by Spanish motorists—also moved higher, reaching an average of 1.60 euros per liter last week, up by roughly 0.9%. This level mirrors prices seen about six months earlier. Since mid-February, diesel has generally remained cheaper than gasoline, a gap that widened when an exceptional market reversal from August 2022 began to unwind.
standing all summer
Throughout the summer, gasoline and diesel prices experienced successive rises as private drivers made long trips between resorts and home, fueling a steady demand surge.
The most recent decline in price came at the end of June, with some fuels accumulating in stock since then. Gasoline saw a 7.34% rise, equivalent to about 1.58 euros per liter, about 12 cents more than the previous level. Diesel faced even stronger pressure, increasing by more than 11.3% (roughly 17 cents above 1.43 euros per liter) due to higher international oil prices caused by production cuts agreed upon by OPEC and its partners, including Russia.
At current rates, filling a standard 55-liter petrol tank costs around 94 euros, up from about 87.3 euros a year earlier, despite the 20-cent-per-liter discount that has been in place. The 55-liter diesel fill averages roughly 88 euros, about 30 cents lower than the 88.3 euros charged during the same period in 2022, illustrating how diesel pricing has tracked gasoline with its own distinct movements.
Strong increase since the beginning of the year
Since the start of the year, fuel prices have risen noticeably. Gasoline has climbed about 23.6%, adding roughly 32 cents more per liter than the level of 1.38 euros observed earlier. Diesel has risen by almost 10% so far this year, roughly 15 cents above 1.45 euros per liter.
Fuel sales at Spanish gas stations have been affected by the government’s 20-cent-per-liter discount since the year began. The broader market has seen voltage fluctuations as the energy crisis evolved, with subsequent reductions or withdrawals of additional discounts that large oil companies typically apply at the network of service stations.
After a period of steady increases, prices for both fuels have remained well above the levels seen before the invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. Back then, diesel sold for around 1.479 euros per liter and gasoline for about 1.594 euros per liter. While prices remain elevated relative to those pre-crisis years, they are still far from the all-time peaks reached more than a year ago, when gasoline hit around 2.141 euros per liter and diesel hovered near 2.1 euros.