Finance
Slovakia Allows Setting Higher Fuel Prices for Foreigners
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 18, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 18, 2026
Quick Summary
Slovakia’s government has approved allowing service stations to charge higher diesel prices and restrict quantities—including a cap of a full tank plus 10 liters—for cars with foreign license plates, aiming to curb cross‑border “fuel tourism” amid energy price surges following the Iran war.
Slovakia allows stations to set higher diesel prices for foreigners, limit sales on supply concerns
Slovakia Implements New Diesel Pricing and Sales Restrictions Amid Supply Fears
Government Resolution and Rationale
March 18 (Reuters) - Slovakia's government on Wednesday approved a resolution allowing service stations to limit diesel sales, and also set higher prices for cars with foreign plates as it clamps down on "fuel tourism".
Slovakia has sought to secure supplies as global energy prices have surged due to the Iran war, and as the country's Russian crude deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline have been interrupted due to damage to the line in Ukraine.
Regional Impact and Responses
European Context
Other European countries are feeling the effects of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, now in its third week, as one-quarter of the gasoil and diesel exports through the critical Strait of Hormuz were sent to Europe last year. Hungary has capped fuel prices, while Poland's main refiner Orlen has cut its margins to reduce the hit to consumers.
Details of Slovakia's Measures
Sales and Pricing Restrictions
Under Slovakia's new resolution, fuel pumps can limit diesel sales to a full tank and up to 10 additional litres.
Exports will also be limited, and prices of diesel for foreign-registered cars can be set differently, based on the average of prices in neighbouring Czech Republic, Austria and Poland.
The measures will be valid for 30 days and do not concern gasoline.
Government Justification
Prime Minister's Statement
Prime Minister Robert Fico said the limits are necessary to stem the surge of diesel sales to people from Poland driving across the border seeking Slovakia's cheaper fuel.
"There has been a situation where dozens of gas stations in northern Slovakia have literally dried up," he said.
Supply Chain and Diplomatic Tensions
Druzhba Pipeline Disruption
Because of the Druzhba outage, the Slovak government has released state reserves for refiner Slovnaft, owned by Hungarian oil and gas group MOL, while it gets alternative supplies.
Slovakia has been in a sharp dispute with Ukraine over Druzhba supplies, accusing Kyiv of dragging its feet on restarting the pipeline. Ukraine denies this, saying repairs after a Russian strike still need time.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Jason Hovet in Prague, editing by Andrei Khalip and David Gaffen)
Key Takeaways
- •The measure targets cross‑border diesel purchases—especially near Poland—where lower prices on the Slovak side prompted sharp increases in fuel demand, fuel shortages, and logistical strain, as noted by refiner Slovnaft.
- •Under the resolution, service stations can set elevated diesel prices for cars with foreign plates and limit sales to a full tank plus an additional 10 liters.
- •The move aligns with broader regional responses to rising energy prices, such as Hungary’s recent fuel price caps and Poland’s refiners reducing margins to protect domestic consumers.
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Slovakia allows setting higher fuel prices for foreigners
1Why is Slovakia allowing higher diesel prices for foreign drivers?
Slovakia is implementing higher diesel prices for cars with foreign plates to combat fuel tourism, where foreign drivers purchase cheaper fuel in Slovakia.
2What restrictions are included in Slovakia’s new fuel pricing policy?
Fuel pumps can set higher prices for foreign-plated cars and limit diesel sales to a full tank and up to 10 additional litres.
3Which areas in Slovakia are most affected by fuel tourism?
Northern districts bordering Poland have seen increased purchases due to lower diesel prices in Slovakia compared to Poland.
4Did Slovakia specify an upper price limit for diesel sold to foreigners?
No, the resolution did not specify an upper price limit for diesel sold to foreign-plated vehicles.
5How are neighboring countries responding to rising fuel prices?
Hungary has capped fuel prices and Poland's main refiner Orlen has cut margins to mitigate the impact on consumers.
