Diesel Down, Petrol Up: Who Actually Pays for the Fuel Excise Bill
While the reduced 10% VAT rate on fuel stays in force through October 12, diesel and petrol prices aren't moving in sync — and the difference lands directly on transporters and households.
Despite the extended reduced 10% VAT rate on fuel — instead of the standard 18% — the latest price adjustments show diesel and petrol moving in opposite directions: diesel is getting cheaper while gasoline grades are ticking up slightly. The Energy and Water Services Regulatory Commission adjusts prices weekly based on global oil market movements and the exchange rate.
Industry experts point out that excise duties — a fixed amount per liter, independent of the market price — remain unchanged regardless of the VAT cut, meaning the real benefit to consumers from the lower VAT is partly offset when the market price of oil rises at the same time, as it has in recent weeks amid tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Transport companies, heavy users of diesel, feel the relief more strongly than citizens filling up private cars with gasoline, while farmers enter the autumn season with a lighter fuel bill. The open question is whether the reduced VAT rate will be extended past October 12, or whether fuel will revert to standard taxation amid unstable global prices.
MKNews Hub · Macedonia · September 30, 2026
