Joseba Barrenengoa, CEO of Spanish filling station chain EasyGas, announced that diesel will become eight cents cheaper per litre than petrol on Tuesday, September 1.
The change stems from a scheduled modification to Spain's special hydrocarbon tax rebate, which applies different levels of relief based on year-on-year fuel price movements under rules established by Royal Decree.
Barrenengoa, whose EasyGas network operates 19 service stations across Spain, explained that the new tax structure will cause petrol and diesel prices to diverge sharply at the pump from the start of the month.
According to calculations by the EasyGas chief executive, the tax discount on petrol will be reduced from 10 cents per litre to 5 cents per litre. He stated that because petrol did not exceed the 15 percent year-on-year growth threshold, it would retain only a 5-cent tax reduction on the special hydrocarbon duty.
As a result of halving the tax relief, refuelling with petrol is set to cost motorists approximately six cents more per litre than on August 31.
Tax cuts for diesel drivers
The tax adjustment will work in the opposite direction for diesel users due to significant price escalation for the fuel in recent weeks. Barrenengoa noted that the tax reduction for diesel will double from 10 cents to 20 cents per litre starting in September.
He pointed out that motorists buying diesel will see their tax discount increase from 10 cents to 20 cents per litre, making diesel around 12 cents per litre cheaper than on August 31. Taking both adjustments into account, Barrenengoa calculated that diesel will cost about eight cents per litre less than petrol from September 1.
Eight consecutive weeks of rising prices
The tax restructuring comes as fuel prices in Spain record eight consecutive weeks of price increases. During the latest analyzed week, average petrol prices reached 1.723 euros per litre, marking their highest level since March, while diesel reached 1.861 euros per litre, its highest price since mid-April.
The divergence in tax treatment directly reflects price performance over recent months. In July, diesel recorded a year-on-year price surge of 15.7 percent, surpassing the 15 percent threshold that triggers enhanced fiscal aid under the government measures plan. Petrol recorded a year-on-year rise of 7.3 percent, staying below the limit and remaining on the standard assistance reduction schedule.
Background on Spanish energy taxation
Spain's special hydrocarbon tax is an excise duty levied on mineral oils and motor fuels, regulated at the national level to manage energy consumption and public revenues. The latest changes follow a prior tax adjustment on July 1, when value-added tax on fuel returned to the standard 21 percent rate after several months at a reduced 10 percent rate.
