Why diesel is more expensive than gasoline when it has always been the other way around

Since diesel vehicles began to be marketed, this fuel (almost) always has been cheaper than gasoline. However, in recent days this situation has been reversed.

The price of diesel A, the most widely used in Spain, exceeds the price of 95-octane gasoline at the country’s pumps since last March 23. In fact, the average price of diesel during that Thursday (1,860 euros per liter) is five cents higher than that of gasoline (1,819 euros per liter).

In other words: while between March 22 and 28, gasoline only increased its price by 0.3% compared to the previous week, the rise in diesel was 2.2%.

And although it is an event that has been repeated on some other occasion, it is still extraordinary and striking. It is clear that the crisis caused by the war in ukraine has led to an increase in prices for most goods, including fuel. But why does it affect diesel more than gasoline?

Reliance on refined diesel

As industry sources explain to Eph, the price of diesel at service stations is highly dependent on the prices of refined diesel. And it turns out Russia is one of the main exporters of refined gas oil in the international market. However, the diesel that is sold in Spain does not come mainly from the Russians.

“This is not the case in Spain”, they insist from the sector, “but the tension of international markets It affects us and that is why some gas stations are experiencing a price increase” stronger in diesel than in gasoline.

In addition, traditionally this fuel has been cheaper because about tax benefits to encourage your purchase. However, the difficulty of the moment and the high price have meant that “the rise in diesel has Eaten the tax difference.

As we explained in the Economistboth gasoline and diesel support a Special Tax on Hydrocarbons of different amount; while for gasoline it is set at 400.69 euros per 1,000 liters, for diesel it is set at 307 euros.