Data published by the European Commission shows that of all the European Union countries monitored, the economic impact of the war is felt most acutely in Poland. Within just three months of the outbreak of the war, petrol prices in Poland increased by over 35 percent. For comparison, in the same period in the Czech Republic, which is in second place, fuel prices increased by "only" around 23 percent. 

"It is no surprise that the war and related sanctions imposed on Russia are the leading factors behind the skyrocketing changes in the fuel market. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Interestingly, compared to Western Europe, we have one of the lowest fuel prices – in Poland, we pay ca. €1.60 per liter and in Germany nearly €2.15. Of course, our western neighbor has much higher average salaries. One salary allows Germans to fill up their tanks 21 times, while in our country, it is only 12 times,”  Marek Trofimiuk, autobaza.pl expert, said.

The final cost of fuel is mainly influenced by the price quotations of crude oil and finished fuels, as well as the currently weak zloty against the US dollar. Still, the most costly factor in the final fuel price is fuel rates at refineries.

"The increase in the model refining margin angered people who perceived this move as a desire by oil companies to make money in a difficult situation. However, this is not true – the model refining margin does not affect the cost of gasoline at stations. It is a kind of indicator for investors and analysts, which informs about market conditions in which a refinery operates," Marek Trofimiuk added.

(WBJ)