Surprise at the Austrian pumps. Slovaks fill up there cheaper than at home TVNOVINY.sk – TVNOVINY.sk

We refuel more expensively than the Austrians. And our western neighbors fell from a higher price ceiling than Slovaks. In practice, this means that Austrian gas stations reduce prices at a faster pace. However, according to the analyst, we will catch up with them soon. At the turn of June and July, when Slovak motorists refueled with the historically most expensive fuel for ninety-five euros, the Austrians paid more than two euros for a liter of gasoline and diesel. Since the beginning of the summer, however, the prices of oil, and therefore of fuel, have taken the path of cheapening. Its pace is obviously different in every country. The current situation also shows it. In Slovakia, the price of gasoline has stabilized at the euro seventy-three mark, but in Austria it is already a few cents cheaper. Slovaks also noticed cheaper Austrian gasoline. We saw it in the border towns of Wolfsthal and Kittsee, but also in the city of Hainburg, where we checked six different gas stations. The price of gasoline there on Monday afternoon was kept at the limit of 70 euros. It was interesting that most of the refuelers had Slovak registration numbers. According to our readers, gasoline was even cheaper over the weekend. “I was on a trip in Austria on Saturday and the price of gasoline surprised me. They asked for 1.65 euros per liter,” Braňo wrote to us. “My friends and I were in Austria, and if I didn’t have a full tank, I would definitely fill up. Gasoline cost 1.65 euros,” added Martin. In Austria, they have flexible pricing, so the prices at the pumps immediately respond to changes in world markets. As a result, pumpers can rewrite their price tags twice a day. This explains why even within 24 hours there can be significant price jumps in prices. Slovaks refuel at an Austrian pump Source: TVNOVINY.sk Fuel prices at a gas station in Austria Source: TVNOVINY.sk The question remains, why prices in Austria fall faster than in Slovakia, since oil prices have been falling for a long time. “The reason is the reduction of supply on the Slovak market in connection with the planned maintenance of the Duna refinery in Hungary. Like Slovnaft, this refinery belongs to the MOL concern. That’s why Slovnaft is currently supplying more to Hungary,” explained Boris Tomčiak, an analyst at the consulting company Finlord. That should change in the near future. “After the maintenance is completed, the situation will stabilize and prices in Slovakia will drop so that they will catch up with the price reductions in the surrounding countries,” added Tomčiak. Czechs also have cheaper gasoline We already wrote last week that the price is lower in the Czech Republic than in Slovakia. You can find pumps there that are even ten cents cheaper. This was the first gas station across the border, which is about 10 minutes by car from the village of Kúty. “In the Czech Republic, the government started to strictly control traders’ margins and discovered an unpleasant surprise. July margins were above average, traders are probably afraid of tougher sanctions from the state,” said František Burda, an analyst at FinGO.sk. In addition, the Czech government reduced the consumption tax by 1.50 crowns per liter from June to September, which is about six cents. Fuel prices should continue to fall. And it also concerns Slovakia. “We are currently watching the reduction of wholesale prices throughout Europe. Today, the price of oil on world markets is also falling significantly. The drop in prices at gas stations will therefore continue in the coming weeks,” explained Tomčiak. Well, the problem could be with the diesel. “Europe is not self-sufficient in diesel production, so it imports a large amount of it. After the sanctions imposed on Russia, it is difficult to legally pay for and import diesel from refineries. There is not enough diesel, so its price is rising,” added Burda. And if, according to the analyst, the demand for diesel does not decrease, the price gap between it and gasoline will widen.