Fuel VAT cut: car drivers gain 1.30 zł a litre, lorries under 30 groszy

The Prime Minister has announced an intervention in pump prices. The changes will take effect before Easter, in the first days of April.

What the intervention covers

• A cut in VAT on fuel from 23% to 8%.
• A reduction in excise duty to the EU minimum (without the need for Brussels' consent).

In practice, this means two completely different situations:

• Passenger car users (driving privately) will gain around 1.30 zł a litre.
• Lorry owners will save less than 30 groszy.

Where the disparity comes from

The haulage industry deducts all of its VAT, so the only thing that matters to it is the net price. A large cut in this tax is therefore irrelevant to hauliers, and the only real relief will be a small adjustment to excise duty.

Meanwhile, the wholesale net price of diesel (6749 zł per m3, according to Orlen) has risen by more than 40% compared with 28 February 2026, driven by the conflict in the Middle East.

Private users will breathe a sigh of relief, but heavy haulage, on which the whole market rests, is left with almost nothing.

What do you make of these government cuts? Is this a fair solution for haulage companies?