Diesel rises to 99 denars from midnight while petrol falls by 2.5 denars
Diesel now costs three denars more than 95-octane petrol, and Mickoski says talks with OKTA on an extra discount are continuing.
According to a decision of the Energy Regulatory Commission (RKE), new retail fuel prices apply from midnight on October 19 to 20. Diesel rises by two denars and sells for 99 denars per liter. 98-octane petrol falls by 2.5 denars to 98 denars, and 95-octane petrol is cut by 2.5 denars to 96 denars per liter.
The RKE explained that, compared with the previous calculation, world reference prices for petrol fell by an average of 4.1 percent, while diesel prices rose by an average of 2.9 percent. That explains the different direction: the two fuels follow different market quotations, so they do not always move together.
As a result, diesel is now more expensive than petrol. At 99 denars it is three denars above 95-octane and one denar above 98-octane. For drivers of diesel cars and for freight transport, which relies mostly on diesel, that is a less favorable change than the one seen by the owner of a petrol vehicle.
On October 19, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said that talks with the supplier OKTA on an additional discount are continuing and that he believes they are close to a deal for another two denars per liter, at least for diesel. According to available reports, no agreement has yet been announced. The government, he said, will also extend the reduced VAT on diesel, from 18 to 10 percent, which was due to expire on October 20.
How much is that tax measure worth? A rough calculation: if the price of 99 denars contains 10 percent VAT, then the price before tax is about 90 denars. At a rate of 18 percent, the same price would be about 106 denars, or roughly seven denars higher. This is only an estimate and assumes all other price components, including excise, stay the same, but it shows the size of the measure's effect.
Mickoski also said that diesel and 95-octane petrol are under 1.6 euros per liter, which he described as the lowest in Europe, and noted that in some European countries fuel costs 3.2 to 3.5 euros. At an exchange rate of about 61.5 denars per euro, 95-octane petrol is around 1.56 euros and diesel around 1.61 euros, so the statement accurately describes petrol, while for diesel it sits right at the line. The claim that prices are the lowest in Europe has not been checked here against data from other countries; it is the prime minister's wording.
What is not known? It is unknown how long the extended VAT cut on diesel will last, whether and when a deal with OKTA will be signed, and how large the real discount will be. It is also unclear whether the next calculation will bring diesel back below petrol, since that depends on world quotations, the exchange rate and government decisions.
What does it mean? The price at the pump depends both on the world market and on state measures. At the moment the reduced VAT keeps diesel at around 99 denars, and any change to that measure or to world prices will be felt immediately by households and hauliers.
MKNews Hub · Macedonia · October 20, 2026
