Serbia keeps fuel excise duties 20% lower until August 23: diesel at RSD 229, petrol at RSD 200
Serbia has extended its temporary 20% reduction in fuel excise duties until August 23, 2026. Here is what drivers need to know about current diesel and petrol prices and how the measure affects fuel costs.
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Drivers in Serbia will continue to benefit from reduced fuel excise duties for at least another week. The Serbian government has extended the temporary 20% reduction in excise duties on petroleum products, with the measure now remaining in effect until August 23, 2026.
How much is the fuel excise duty in Serbia?
Under the extended measure, the temporary excise duty on unleaded petrol is RSD 57.60 per litre, while the rate for gas oils, including diesel, is RSD 59.23 per litre. The temporary rate for leaded petrol is RSD 61.24 per litre.
The previous measure was due to expire on August 16, but the government extended it for another seven days. Excise duties will therefore remain 20% below the full statutory rates until August 23.
Fuel prices in Serbia: current diesel and petrol prices
The current maximum retail price of Euro Diesel in Serbia is RSD 229 per litre, while Euro Premium BMB 95 petrol can cost no more than RSD 200 per litre. These maximum prices apply from 3:00 p.m. on August 14 until 3:00 p.m. on August 21, 2026.
Compared with the previous week, diesel has become two dinars more expensive per litre, while petrol has fallen by two dinars. This illustrates why a 20% reduction in excise duty does not translate into a 20% reduction in the price motorists see at the pump.
Why does a 20% excise cut not mean fuel is 20% cheaper?
Excise duty is only one component of the final retail price of fuel. Wholesale and procurement costs, taxes, operating expenses, retailer margins and Serbia's system for setting maximum retail fuel prices all influence what drivers ultimately pay.
The temporary reduction is therefore primarily designed to soften the effect of high or rising wholesale fuel costs. If procurement prices increase, the lower excise duty can absorb part of that increase, but it does not necessarily result in a lower pump price.
How much does a full tank cost in Serbia?
At the maximum BMB 95 petrol price of RSD 200 per litre, filling a 50-litre tank costs up to RSD 10,000. The same 50-litre fill with diesel at RSD 229 per litre costs up to RSD 11,450, a difference of RSD 1,450 per full tank.
What happens after August 23?
The reduced excise rates are currently scheduled to remain in force only until August 23. The government could extend the measure again, change the size of the reduction or allow the full statutory excise rates to return. The next decision will therefore be important for the future direction of fuel prices in Serbia.
Drivers should also note that two separate deadlines apply. The current maximum retail fuel prices remain valid until 3:00 p.m. on August 21, while the reduced excise duties remain in force until August 23. New maximum petrol and diesel prices will be determined separately.
What does the decision mean for drivers in Serbia?
For motorists, the extension means that reduced excise duties remain one of the mechanisms used to limit the effect of elevated wholesale prices on fuel costs. Until the next retail price adjustment, Euro Diesel is capped at RSD 229 per litre and Euro Premium BMB 95 at RSD 200 per litre.
