Cluj Diesel Prices Drop Below 10 Lei with New Excise Reduction

The Ministry of Finance has enacted a 25% excise reduction on standard diesel, effective from September 1, 2026, in Cluj-Napoca. This temporary policy, intended to last until September 15, has reduced diesel prices in the city to below 10 lei per liter. The measure is part of an ongoing effort to address the crude oil market crisis, as stipulated in Law 162/2026.

According to the Competition Council's Monitorul Prețurilor app, the cheapest diesel is available at Petrom and Socar stations for 9.97 lei per liter. Mol and OMV offer diesel at 10.03 lei per liter, while Lukoil has the highest price at 10.23 lei per liter.

The Ministry's decision to increase the excise reduction from August's 20% to the current 25% is a response to mounting market pressures observed over the past two weeks. Alexandru Nazare noted that the excise adjustment mechanism operates gradually. It takes into account international market conditions.

The excise reduction cuts the levy by 701.07 lei per 1,000 liters. The effective excise level now stands at 2,103.22 lei per 1,000 liters. This intervention aims to alleviate fiscal pressure on diesel prices. The government hopes to limit cost increases in the transport and logistics sectors.

A significant development. The policy reflects a significant rise in Platts diesel quotes by 45.65% and an average price increase of 25.45%. The mechanism, which recalibrates excise duties every two weeks based on market indicators, seeks to protect citizens' purchasing power and maintain economic stability during volatile market conditions.