Czechs fuel up more despite price turbulence: Diesel remains firmly ahead

Fuel consumption in Czechia rose despite the price fluctuations experienced by the market in the first half of the year. Diesel accounted for by far the largest volume consumed in June, while LPG recorded the biggest increase. The Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ) published consumption figures for selected petroleum products and natural gas for this June.

At the beginning of September, European refinery margins for petrol production approached the historic high reached in June 2022. This is due to a combination of geopolitical tensions, constrained supply and low inventories in Europe, which fell to their lowest level since September 2021. The situation for diesel is similarly tight. Domestic consumption figures add another element to the global market picture: according to new ČSÚ data, Czechs fuelled up more than last year despite price fluctuations, with demand rising across fuel categories.

Diesel leads by volume, with petrol far behind

In terms of volume, diesel was clearly the main driver of petroleum product consumption in June. Czechia consumed 489 thousand tonnes in June 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of 2.7%. For the entire first half of the year, consumption reached 2,734 thousand tonnes, a similar increase compared with the same period a year earlier (+2.3%).

Petrol consumption grew at a comparable pace. Consumption reached 168 thousand tonnes in June, 2.4% more than last year. For the first half of the year, the increase was even more pronounced, at 3.7%. The ratio between diesel and petrol has remained around three to one since 2024, as also confirmed by data from the Czech Association of Petroleum Industry and Trade. In its report last year on the consumption of selected petroleum products, it stated that diesel accounts for around 73% of fuel consumption, with the remaining 27% accounted for by petrol.

Consumption growth took place against a backdrop of extraordinary price fluctuations. According to the ČSÚ, diesel entered 2026 at a price of 32.66 korunas per litre, while Natural 95 petrol stood at CZK 33.25/l. Instability in the Middle East subsequently pushed the price of diesel up to a spring high of CZK 48.49/l. By the end of the first half, prices had fallen again: diesel to CZK 35.64/l and petrol to CZK 38.82/l.

LPG consumption saw the strongest growth

Consumption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) recorded one of the most significant year-on-year changes. It rose to 37 thousand tonnes in June from 28 thousand tonnes a year earlier, an increase of 32%. For the first half of the year as a whole, the rise was considerably more modest, at around 5.7%. According to ČSÚ data, the price of LPG climbed to a spring high of CZK 23.59/l at the turn of April and May, but fell to around CZK 22 per litre by the end of June.

Consumption is also supported by a growing vehicle fleet, as reported by the Transport Research Centre on the basis of data from the Ministry of Transport and the Association of Automobile Importers. Registrations of new LPG passenger cars rose by 41% last year to a record 6,455 vehicles, meaning that around 123 thousand such cars were on Czech roads at year-end.