Mainland fuel tax rates changed this week; the price at each pump can still differ
Temporary mainland ISP rates took effect on 7 September after another adjustment to the extraordinary fuel-tax mechanism. The measure cushions part of the market movement but does not set one retail price for every station.
Archived after its publication day. Search retains this original briefing for background and accountability.
Archived 12 September 2026Drivers and small businesses should compare actual local pump prices and update travel budgets without treating a national estimate as a guaranteed increase or saving.
- The published mainland ISP rate is €422.04 per 1,000 litres for unleaded petrol and €265.11 per 1,000 litres for road diesel.
- The temporary extraordinary discounts are €75.48 per 1,000 litres for petrol and €96.49 per 1,000 litres for diesel.
- The measure applies on mainland Portugal; Madeira and the Azores have their own price and tax arrangements.
- Wholesale movements, stock, competition and station policy can produce different retail prices.
What changed on 7 September
The government revised the unit rates for the Tax on Petroleum and Energy Products, known as ISP, after applying its temporary mechanism for exceptional fuel-price movements. The legal order sets the mainland tax rates and records the extraordinary discounts for petrol and diesel.
Those figures are expressed per 1,000 litres because they are tax rates, not the amount a driver will see on the forecourt sign. VAT and the rest of the supply price remain part of the final retail figure.
How to budget for the week
Check the price at the stations you can realistically use before a long journey. A forecast published before the weekly change may not match a particular station's delivery cycle, stock or commercial decision.
For a business, record the actual invoice price and litres purchased instead of applying a press estimate to every vehicle. For a household, compare the full journey cost, including tolls and parking, when deciding whether to drive or use public transport.
What you can do now.
- 01
Compare current prices at two or three practical stations before refuelling.
- 02
Use invoices and actual consumption when updating a business fuel budget.
- 03
Check the separate regional position if travelling in Madeira or the Azores.
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