Fuel costs rose sharply, prompting government action starting 1 April. A relief measure offered at least a 20-cent discount per liter, with 15 cents covered by the state and the rest by oil companies, costing about 5.7 billion for all users. As the year turns, this broad subsidy ends and remains limited to carriers, taxi drivers, VTCs, ambulances, and the primary sector. The executive also chose to cap toll increases on state concession highways, preventing an 8.5% rise unless countermeasures were taken. Commuter trains and Rodalies will stay free for frequent travelers, with a 50% reduction for urban and intercity transport, provided autonomous communities or municipalities contribute at least 20% on top of the 30% already funded by the state. (Source: government transport policy briefing)
Even with some relief in fuel costs, retail prices remain elevated. The trend stems from the former National Energy Commission and the so-called rocket effect, where oil price increases pass rapidly to the final consumer and declines lag behind. The most notable spike occurred in March when Brent crude, the European benchmark, surged to about $137 per barrel following the events surrounding Ukraine. While current prices hover near $80, other factors continue to influence selling prices, including higher costs for refined products in wholesale markets. Diesel shortages primarily reflect disruptions tied to supply from Russia. (Source: energy market analysis report)
How high will the shopping cart go in 2023?
Regarding pump prices for non-professional drivers, little change is expected since the discount will disappear on January 1. In all scenarios, prices settled above two euros per liter at times. The current average for petrol sits around €1.565 per liter, up roughly 6% from a year prior, while diesel averages about €1.661, up about 22%. By June, petrol averaged €2.128 and diesel €2.1 per liter. Analysts anticipate diesel shortages to push prices higher due to limited imports from Russia and the onset of winter, although this second factor may not yet exert a strong influence given current weather conditions. Some companies, like Repsol, have announced they will maintain a €0.10 discount through the winter, with others joining in. (Source: market price tracking service)
Gasoline down 1.57% and back to pre-war levels
The government decided to abolish the general 20-cent discount, replacing it with targeted assistance for shippers, farmers, shipping companies, and fishermen. The discount of 20 cents per liter continues for carriers but will be paid monthly. Direct aid of up to 20 cents per liter will be delivered through a refund of the special hydrocarbon tax, costing €240 million for farmers and €120 million for fishermen. The discount will be reduced to 10 cents from April to June. A direct aid program was also established for owners of buses, taxis, ambulances, VTCs, and freight transport, with estimated annual consumption ranging from €300 to €3,690. (Source: national fiscal policy brief)
Considering that a routine review of tolls could push increases by about 8.4%, the Ministry of Transport decided to cap tolls at 4% on 11 concession motorways and to apply pending revisions on several others. These include AP-51, AP-61, AP-53, AP-66, AP-7 variants, AP-9, AP-6, AP-46, and others. Some energy routes, such as AP-7 and AP-2 in Catalonia, are exempt from tolls, while certain Madrid radials managed by SEITT were frozen after some recovery. Other major corridors, including ring roads around Alicante, Vera, and AP-36 and AP-41, are subject to changes, with the Generalitat highways seeing increases between about 6.5% and 7.3%. The Cadí tunnel toll for a car, minibus, or pickup is set to rise from €12.64 to €13.48, and off-peak rates in Vallvidrera would move to €4.34, up from €4.04, while peak-hour rates rise to €4.88 from €4.56. (Source: transport authorities update)
Renfe will keep commuter, Rodalies, and mid-distance season tickets free in 2023. If autonomous communities or municipalities decide to add the remaining 20% on top of the 30% funded by the state by 30 June, a 50% discount will apply to urban and intercity tickets. In the Barcelona metropolitan area, the T-Casual, the successor ticket to the T-10 and the most used multi-ride option, will cost €11.35, reflecting a loss of the 30% discount on single-zone fares from 1 January. The T-Usual and T-Jove will retain the 50% discount and continue to cost €20 and €40 respectively for single-zone options. (Source: regional transit plan)