The summer of 2026 brings some relief for anyone who watches fuel prices closely. The Spanish government has approved a temporary cut to fuel excise duty (the Impuesto sobre Hidrocarburos), as part of a package to soften the economic impact of the energy crisis linked to the conflict in the Middle East. But it’s a cut with an expiry date — and some fine print worth knowing.
A phased — and shrinking — reduction
This isn’t a flat discount: it tapers month by month. 15 cents less per litre in July, 10 cents in August and 5 cents in September. From 1 October, rates return to normal. In practice, the biggest saving is at the start — every week that passes, the benefit narrows.
The “safeguard clauses”
The law includes an extra protection mechanism. If in a given month the price index for petrol or diesel jumps more than 15% versus the same month last year, the cut is automatically widened in the following months. In other words, if prices spiral, the fiscal shield gets stronger.
More than just the pump
Beyond the price at the station, the decree adjusts other pieces. It changes the refunds for professional diesel (hauliers) and for diesel used in farming, livestock and forestry, with amounts that also vary month by month. And it begins the gradual phase-out of the reduced VAT rate previously applied to certain energy products. Overall, it’s an orderly wind-down of the support measures, not an abrupt cut.
What it means for your business
If your business runs on fuel — transport fleets, delivery, construction, primary sector — this is a good moment to review your purchasing plans. Bringing predictable consumption forward into July, when the cut is deepest, can add up to a meaningful saving by quarter-end. And if you claim professional or agricultural diesel refunds, check the new amounts to plan your cash flow accurately.
At EBF we help businesses anticipate regulatory changes like this and turn them into concrete decisions. If you’d like to assess how this affects you, get in touch.
Reference: Royal Decree-Law 18/2026 of 29 June (Spanish Official Gazette, 30/06/2026, BOE-A-2026-14112).