Fuel prices rose sharply in 2022 – and that rise was made worse by the sad events in Ukraine.
In March 2021, average prices stood at 138.9 cents per litre for petrol and 129.8 cents per litre for diesel.
In March 2022 – prices were close to €2 a litre – that was an increase of 44% for petrol in a year, and a 54% increase for diesel
Excise duty (Mineral Oil Tax) makes up a large part of the price of petrol and diesel in Ireland. For example – 63.67c mineral oil tax is charged on every litre of petrol. (In the UK they charge a fuel duty of 57.95 pence per litre on both petrol and diesel)
To help reduce the effect of rising petrol and diesel prices – the government announced a cut in excise duty on fuel from March 10th 2022 until the end of August 2022. This reduction was later extended to the end of May 2023.
The cut in excise reduced the price of a 60-litre tank of petrol by €12 and 60 litres of diesel fell by about €9.
Starting in June 2023 – the excise duty on petrol and diesel will be gradually increased back to the old rates in 3 stages .
Excise Duty Increases on Petrol and Diesel in 2023
On June 1st 2023
- Petrol duty rose by 6 cents per litre.
- Diesel duty rose by 5 cents per litre
- Marked gas oil rose by 1 cent per litre.
On September 1st 2023
These duty rates were increased by a further 7 cents for petrol, 5 cents for diesel, and 1 cent for marked gas on September 1st 2023
October 31st 2023
Excise duty rates will be fully restored to their original levels on 31 October 2023 with a final increase of 8 cents for petrol, 6 cents for diesel, and 3 cents for market gas oil.
These Are The Normal Rates of Excise Duty on Fuel
| Fuel Type | Excise Duty Per litre | Excise on 60 litres |
| Petrol | €0.6367 | €38.20 |
| Diesel | €0.53546 | €32.13 |
| Green Diesel | €0.13817 | €8.29 |
The Reduced Rates of Excise Duty between March 2022 and May 2023
| Fuel Type | Excise Duty Rates From March 10th to May 31st 2023 | Reduced Excise on 60 litres | Price reduction For 60 Litres |
| Petrol | €0.4367 | €26.20 | €12 |
| Diesel | €0.38546 | €23.12 | €9 |
| Green Diesel | €0.11817 | €7.09 | €2 |
Excise duty rates went up on 1 June 2023 by 6 cents per litre of petrol, 5 cents per litre of diesel and 1 cent per litre of marked gas oil.
On 1 September these rates were increased by a further 7 cents for petrol, 5 cents for diesel, and 1 cent for marked gas.
Rates will then be fully restored on 31 October with a final increase of 8 cents for petrol, 6 cents for diesel, and 3 cents for market gas oil. This will bring the excise duty back up to €0.6367 on petrol and €0.53546 on deisel.
NOTE: –There is no excise duty on home heating oil (kerosene) .
Read more here about Carbon Tax on Petrol, Gas and Solid Fuels
More about Mineral Oil Tax