Romania's new emergency measures target fuel speculation and supply shortages

Business Forum
The Romanian Government has officially declared a crisis state on the crude oil and petroleum products market, effective from 1 April 2026 until 30 June 2026, in a bid to protect the national economy and consumers from unjustified price hikes at the pump.

Under the new regulations, commercial mark-ups for companies producing, importing, or distributing petrol and diesel will be capped. Specifically, these margins cannot exceed the average annual mark-up practiced by each economic operator during 2025.

Companies are required to report these figures to the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF) within five days of the procedural order being published.

Non-compliance is met with significant deterrents; firms found exceeding these limits face fines ranging from 0.5% to 1% of their previous year's turnover.

To maintain market stability and prevent supply chain disruptions, the government has also adjusted biofuel requirements. Operators may now reduce the biofuel content in petrol from 8% to a minimum of 2%. This flexibility aims to ensure that the domestic market remains adequately supplied without the technical bottlenecks previously associated with high biofuel blending mandates during periods of scarcity.

Furthermore, the executive has tightened controls on exports to address a structural imbalance—specifically a national deficit in diesel. During the crisis period, the export of diesel and crude oil requires prior written approval from both the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism and the Ministry of Energy.

Entities attempting to export these commodities without the necessary permits face drastic penalties, including fines between 5% and 10% of their turnover and the seizure of the goods involved.

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