What makes up the price of petrol and diesel and why it varies

Fuel is now clearly more expensive than a year ago

According to Statistics Finland, the average price of diesel in September 2026 was about €2.4 per litre and of 95 petrol about €2.3. Over a year, diesel became 49.1% more expensive and 95 petrol 30.1%. The price of light fuel oil rose even more, 64.2%.

The rise began in spring 2026. According to Statistics Finland's monthly data, the average price of diesel was still about €1.8 per litre in February, but already €2.1 in March and €2.3 in April. Petrol 95 cost about €1.8 in February and about €2.1 from April to August before rising to €2.3 in September.

According to the European Commission's weekly Weekly Oil Bulletin, the average price of 95E10 petrol in Finland on 28.9.2026 was 2,331 euros and of diesel 2,523 euros per litre. At the same time petrol in Finland was 10,8 % and diesel 12,8 % more expensive than the EU average.

Price per litre broken down

According to the Weekly Oil Bulletin price structure, of the 28.9.2026 litre price of 95E10 petrol, €1.156 was product price and margin, €0.696 excise duty, €0.005 security of supply fee and €0.474 value added tax. Taxes accounted for 50.4%.

For diesel, the product price and margin were 1.477 euros, excise duty 0.527 euros, security-of-supply fee 0.006 euros and value-added tax 0.513 euros. Taxes accounted for 41.4 %.

So most of the price increase over the past year has come from the product price, because per-litre excise duties do not rise with the market price. Value added tax, on the other hand, is calculated as a percentage of the total price, so it grows in euros when the product price rises.

Product price and margin: price of crude oil and the refined product, transport, storage and distribution margin
Excise duty: energy content tax and carbon dioxide tax
Security of supply fee
Value added tax 25,5 % on all of the above

Why diesel is more expensive than petrol

The tax per litre on diesel is lower than on petrol: from 1.4. to 31.12.2026 the energy content tax on diesel is 34.57 cents and the carbon dioxide tax 18.12 cents per litre, on petrol 53.79 and 15.85 cents respectively. Even so, diesel is now more expensive because its tax-free product price has risen clearly more than petrol's.

The product price of diesel is affected by, among other things, the world market price of middle distillates, refining capacity and demand, which is increased by, for example, heavy traffic and heating oil consumption. When the price of middle distillates rises, it shows in diesel and heating oil prices faster than in petrol.

The owner of a diesel car also pays a power-source tax of 5.5 cents per day for each started 100 kilograms. For example, for a 1 500 kg diesel car it is about 301 euros a year.

What moves the price

Most of the short-term price variation comes from the product price. It is affected by the price of crude oil, the euro–dollar exchange rate, refinery utilisation rates and seasonal demand. Taxes, on the other hand, are per litre and change only with legislative amendments, so they smooth out percentage variation.

Competition and the price cycle also affect the price at individual stations. According to researchers at the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (KKV), fuel has often been cheapest between Sunday and Tuesday, and the price can rise by 12 % on average within 24 hours. The timing of cheap days now varies from week to week, so it is worth following prices.

What changes in 2027

The carbon dioxide tax on transport fuels falls on 1.1.2027 under the act approved by Parliament (Government Proposal 132/2025). The carbon dioxide tax on petrol falls from 15,85 cents to 14,31 cents and on diesel from 18,12 cents to 16,36 cents per litre. With value added tax, the reduction is about 1,9 cents per litre for petrol and about 2,2 cents for diesel.

At the same time, the distribution obligation rises from 19,5 percent to 22,5 percent, and in 2028 the obligation is 31 % (Energy Authority). Renewable fuel components are usually more expensive than fossil ones, so the rise in the obligation may affect the price in the opposite direction to the tax cut. The final effect also depends on world market prices.

Follow the price in Fuel Radar

Fuel Radar collects Statistics Finland's monthly average prices, weekly EU comparisons and the share of taxes. Monthly prices are published at the end of the month together with the flash estimate of the consumer price index.

If you drive a lot, even a small difference in the price per litre is noticeable. For example, with an annual consumption of 1 000 litres, a ten-cent difference in the price per litre means a difference of one hundred euros a year.

For companies, the price of fuel is a direct cost item. A VAT-liable company can deduct the VAT on fuel to the extent the vehicle is used in taxable business, so fleet costs are best compared without VAT.

Frequently asked questions

How much of the price of petrol is tax?

According to the Weekly Oil Bulletin, on 28.9.2026 taxes accounted for 50.4% of 95E10 petrol and 41.4% of diesel. The price includes excise duty, security of supply fee and 25.5% value added tax.

Will fuel prices fall at the turn of the year?

The carbon dioxide tax falls on 1.1.2027; including value added tax, this means about 1.9 cents per litre for petrol and about 2.2 cents per litre for diesel. However, the rise in the distribution obligation and market prices may push the price in the other direction.

Why is fuel more expensive in Finland than the EU average?

Prices are affected by taxation, logistics and market structure. In the week of 28.9.2026, petrol in Finland was 10,8 % and diesel 12,8 % more expensive than the EU average price.

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Sources

The article is general information and does not replace the guidance of an authority, a lawyer or an adviser. Check up-to-date information from the sources.

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