ROEC analyzed recent developments regarding competition in the retail fuel market. Just two days after excise duties decreased by 20%, four major oil companies displayed the exact same price for diesel at 10.2 lei per liter. In a truly competitive market, prices naturally vary across different stations, reflecting genuine diversity.

When multiple companies display identical pricing, economists refer to it as price collusion, an anti-competitive practice that falls under the purview of the Competition Council. Although Petrom later adjusted its diesel price to 10.14 lei per liter, other major operators maintained the uniform 10.2 lei rate, raising serious questions about market behavior.

Regional market tensions, such as logistical blockages caused by dramatic drops in the Danube's water level that impacted river transport, cannot be ignored entirely. However, after a 68-bani tax reduction, drivers should have seen lower prices sustained for at least a week. With high tax burdens and rising costs, the state and fuel retailers must consider the long-term relationship with consumers, particularly as modern drivers increasingly turn toward electric vehicles rather than accepting short-lived promotional pricing.