Fuel prices mostly rise in Baltic capitals, except for diesel in Riga

According to the latest data compiled by the LETA news agency, fuel prices in the capitals of the three Baltic states mostly continued to rise during the past working week. This upward trend was observed in Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn alike.

The main exception to this pattern was the price of diesel fuel in Riga. In the Latvian capital, fuel retailers have already begun factoring in a recently approved reduction in excise tax, meaning that, unlike other fuel types, diesel prices in Riga did not rise over the course of the week.

Changes to excise tax rates typically reach the market with some delay, as fuel retailers gradually adjust their retail prices once they start selling fuel stocks purchased under the new, lower tax rate. This suggests that the full effect of the tax cut on fuel prices in Latvia may only become fully apparent over the coming weeks.

In contrast, price developments in the other two Baltic capitals, Vilnius and Tallinn, were not affected by similar tax measures this week, which is why the price increases recorded there are in line with the broader recent trend in the region.

LETA regularly compiles and publishes data on fuel price changes in the Baltic capitals, offering an overview of the retail fuel market situation in the region.