Just before the temporary tax relief expires, petrol stations in Spain are recording unusually wide price differences. Official daily listings for 23 and 24 September 2026 show unleaded 95 at between €1.465 and €2.399 per litre. The figures come from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition’s daily updated Geoportal de Hidrocarburos and reports submitted by operators to the Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC).
The wide variation is explained by local cost structures, regional competition and differing business models among branded chains, supermarkets and independent stations. It is currently compounded by temporary tax rates in force since June 2026, which affect the final price. The legal framework is set out in the Real Decreto-ley 18/2026 It describes reduced tax rates and tax bases which, according to the official interpretation, will remain in force until 30 September 2026 .
The differences are substantial for consumers and businesses: for a 55-litre tank, the cost difference between the quoted extremes is more than €50. The Ministry’s representative daily and monthly series also show that the average price per litre in September 2026 is higher than at the start of the year. The current market situation therefore increases the incentive to compare prices nearby.
The government justified the temporary relief by citing the economic burden caused by the international situation. At the same time, it introduced a mechanism providing for the gradual withdrawal of the aid if specified inflation thresholds are not exceeded. After repeated announcements, the executive says it will link decisions on extending the measures to changes in consumer prices and communicate them through official publications. The reduced rates remain in force through 30 September 2026, although raw material and logistics costs can continue to amplify or dampen local price movements.
In practice, price levels and differences remain dynamic. Three factors will be crucial to developments in the coming weeks: first, the cost of procuring crude oil and intermediate products; second, regional transport and energy costs; and third, local competition. The authorities note that operators must regularly report their prices to the Geoportal. This provides up-to-date, nationwide data for Spain, allowing developments to be closely monitored after the tax relief ends.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).