Fuel station margins falling since start of Iran conflict, Finance Ministry says

Fuel stations in Czechia have gradually been lowering their margins since fighting began in Iran and after the Finance Ministry launched price monitoring, the ministry said on Thursday.

Typical diesel margins fell from CZK 2.70–3.20 per litre before the crisis to CZK 1.90–2.60 after the conflict began, and later dropped to around CZK 1 following the start of monitoring. Petrol margins remained around CZK 2.35–2.60 before and shortly after the outbreak of fighting, later declining to about CZK 2.10.

The ministry analysed data from 2,530 filling stations between February 16 and March 15, with monitoring introduced six days after the conflict began on February 28.

Fuel prices have nevertheless risen sharply. Diesel now averages CZK 43.15 per litre and petrol CZK 39.04, both several crowns higher than at the end of February.