August the 27th, 2026 – Croatian fuel prices have been up and down like a yo-yo, but just how do they compare to those across the rest of the EU?
Energy expert Jasminko Umićević assessed that Croatia is not facing a fuel shortage, but warns that high prices could persist. Drivers in Croatia are once again paying more for fuel as of Tuesday. However, Eurostat data show that the rise in fuel prices over the past year was still milder than the European Union average. Diesel in Croatia rose by 14 percent, and petrol by eight percent.
Poslovni reports that according to data issued for July 2026, the average diesel price in the European Union was 20 percent higher than a year earlier. The largest increases were recorded in Romania and the Netherlands, both at 31 percent, followed by Germany at 27 percent, France at 24 percent and Greece at 22 percent.
croatia remains below the eu average
With a 14 percent increase, Croatia remained six percent below the EU average. A slightly milder increase was recorded in Slovenia at 13 percent, while Hungary, with a rise of only one percent, is clearly at the bottom of the observed group of countries.The difference is even more pronounced for petrol specifically. Its price across the rest of the European Union rose by an average of 15 percent over the year, almost twice as much as in Croatia.
The largest increase was recorded in Lithuania at 25 percent, followed by Romania at 23 percent, Germany at 22 percent and the Netherlands at 21 percent. In France and Poland, petrol rose by 16 percent, and in Austria by 15 percent. Croatia and neighbouring Italy, both with an eight percent increase, are at the bottom of the presented ranking. In Slovenia, petrol rose by nine percent, and in Greece by 13 percent.
The annual growth data comes at a time when Croatian drivers are being hit by yet another new price increase. The government adopted decrees at a telephone session under which a litre of petrol costs 1.66 euros as of Tuesday, three cents more than before. Diesel rose by six cents to 1.86 euros per litre, and blue diesel by five cents to 1.32 euros. Liquefied petroleum gas also rose in price. LPG for tanks now costs 1.27 euros per kilogram, three cents more, while the price of gas in bottles rose by four cents to 1.85 euros per kilogram.
The government has retained reduced excise duties and limited traders’ margins. According to its calculation, without these measures petrol would cost 1.81 euros and diesel 2.07 euros per litre. The new prices are valid for seven days.
there will be no shortages, but prices will go up
Energy expert Jasminko Umićević assessed that Croatia is not facing a fuel shortage, but warns that high prices could persist. The problem is particularly pronounced on the diesel market, whose price has remained high even after the fall in the price of crude oil. Over the past twenty years or so, Europe has reduced its refining capacity by approximately 30 percent, even though it consumes more diesel than across the pond in America. After the interruption of imports from Russia, it has relied more on Arab countries, and disruptions related to the Strait of Hormuz have further reduced supply.
Croatia is in a more favourable position thanks to the Rijeka refinery. Although it isn’t yet operating at full capacity because testing is ongoing, domestic production reduces dependence on imports and the risk of shortages.
