The difference in fuel prices between Portugal and Spain continues to encourage regular trips to gas stations in the neighboring country, especially for those who fill up 50-liter tanks of gasoline or diesel. The value of savings, calculated before the recent ISP increase decreed by the Portuguese Government, helps to explain this trend and reveals the decisive weight of the tax burden on the final cost for consumers.
According to the newspaper Correio da Manhã, gasoline cost 23 cents per liter more in Portugal in November than in Spain, while for diesel the difference was 16 cents. This discrepancy translated, in practice, into a saving of 11.55 euros in a supply of 50 liters of gasoline and 8.10 euros in the case of diesel, according to the same source.
The tax burden appears as a central element in this difference. The newspaper writes that data from the Oil Bulletin, released by the Spanish government, shows that 55.7% of the price of gasoline in Portugal corresponded to taxes, contrasting with 49.3% in Spain. In diesel, the publication adds that the Portuguese tax burden reached 50.1%, compared to 43.8% in the neighboring country.
Strategies to reduce costs and impact on internal consumption
Fiscal pressure leaves its mark on the market. The same source mentions that António Comprido, president of the association of Portuguese Fuel and Lubricant Companies, warned in an interview with Negócios that many individuals and companies are moving consumption to Spain.
One way to mitigate part of this difference is through discounts in supermarkets or programs associated with fuel cards. According to the Energy Services Regulatory Authority, average savings in November ranged between two and five cents per liter for gasoline, while for diesel it was around six cents, according to the same source.
Evolution of prices and tax effects next year
The partial rollback of the ISP began this month, in response to pressure from the European Commission to eliminate the discount applied in recent years. The total replacement of the tax could represent around 190 million additional euros for the State in 2025.
At national stations, simple 95 gasoline is priced at 1,699 euros per liter this week and simple diesel at 1,572 euros. According to the same source, these values correspond to residual decreases compared to the previous week.
Oil and market trends
The evolution of the Brent price also influences market behavior. According to , the barrel stood at 62.60 dollars at the beginning of the week, after a year marked by successive declines. The annual trajectory remained negative, with the exception of June, the month in which it reached a peak of 76 dollars. International forecasts point to an average price of 69 dollars at the end of the year and 63 dollars for 2026 and 2027, according to the same source.
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