Serbia renews fuel excise relief, cutting petrol and diesel taxes until 24 April

Serbia has taken another step in its interventionist approach to fuel pricing, extending temporary excise duty relief for motorists with a fresh reduction on petrol and diesel. The move is designed to ease near-term price pressure and maintain market stability as global oil prices remain sensitive to geopolitical developments.

New temporary excise rates for petrol and diesel

A revised regulation has taken effect in Serbia, setting a temporary reduction in excise duties on unleaded petrol and diesel valid until 24 April. Under the updated framework, the excise duty on unleaded petrol is set at 0.46 euros per liter, while diesel is taxed at approximately 0.47 euros per liter.

Further cuts layered on top of earlier reductions

The new rates represent an additional decrease compared with the already reduced levels introduced earlier this year. A previous temporary measure—now repealed—had set excise duties at 0.49 euros per liter for petrol and around 0.50 euros per liter for diesel.

With the latest revision, taxes are cut by an additional 0.03 euros per liter for petrol and slightly more for diesel over the next two weeks. Relative to full statutory rates, the current levels are significantly lower, standing at roughly 25% below standard excise duties of 0.61 euros for petrol and 0.63 euros for diesel.

Policy rationale: global oil prices and price caps

The government’s decision comes after recent amendments that cap petroleum product prices as part of an ongoing market intervention strategy. The initial reduction introduced in March was linked to rising global oil prices associated with geopolitical tensions involving Iran.

Although that March measure had been scheduled to remain in force until mid-April, authorities opted for an additional short-term cut to further ease price pressures and support stability in the fuel market.