Fuel price margin caps extended from 30 June to 31 July 2026
Austria's government regulation on controlling profit margins for diesel and petrol sales during economic crisis is now in effect until 31 July 2026 instead of 30 June. Sellers must pass on price reductions immediately and cannot raise margins beyond international reference prices.
What changed
The regulation, which limits how much sellers can profit from diesel B7 and Euro-Super E10 fuel, has been extended by one month. It originally was set to expire on 30 June 2026 but now remains in force until 31 July 2026. The amendment (published in BGBl. II No. 158/2026) came into effect on 30 June 2026.
Who is affected
Fuel sellers including manufacturers, fuel depots, petrol station operators, and registered recipients are required to comply. Large retailers and vertically integrated companies (those owning both production and retail operations) are directly bound. Independent petrol stations with more than 30 locations must also follow the rules when buying from affected suppliers. Motorway service stations are exempt.
Key rules to follow
Sellers must pass on any price reductions to the next buyer as soon as possible. Price increases are limited to changes in international reference prices (from Argus Media or S&P Global Platts) based on the 31 March 2026 baseline. If a seller's prices rise faster than the reference prices over more than two weeks, the regulator (E-Control) can order them to reduce prices. Sellers can refuse a margin cut only if they can prove it would force them to sell below cost with no reasonable profit.
What to look out for
E-Control monitors compliance by collecting daily reports from producers and depot operators. The agency can access the Price Transparency Database to check what consumers actually pay. Sellers must keep records and documentation ready in case E-Control challenges their pricing. A continuous expert review is underway to assess whether the rules should change based on supply disruptions or the situation of small and medium petrol stations.