By Lina Ferreira
Published on 07/09/2026 – 19:07 GMT+2
Portugal faced a significant fuel price increase on Monday, with diesel reaching an unprecedented high. The latest surge, part of a year-long trend, triggered widespread demonstrations on roads throughout the country.
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Morning commuters witnessed a massive horn protest on the 25 de Abril bridge, the vital crossing connecting Lisbon to Almada on the south bank of the Tagus River.
Simultaneously, further south, a slow-moving convoy began its journey toward Galp’s refinery in Sines, located in the Setúbal district. Organized through WhatsApp and social media channels, the demonstration continued past midday without a scheduled end time.
Social media footage displayed vehicles adorned with Portuguese flags, drivers persistently sounding their horns. According to the Lusa news agency, participants carried signs bearing messages such as “Enough of rising fuel prices” and “Families can’t take any more”. The GNR police reported that between 60 and 100 vehicles participated in the protest.
Petrol at its highest since the invasion of Ukraine
Data from the Automobile Club of Portugal (ACP) (source in Portuguese) indicated that diesel prices climbed by 15 cents on Monday, reaching €2.169 per litre, while petrol rose by 12 cents to €2.142 per litre.
These figures do not account for the government’s exceptional reduction in the Tax on Petroleum Products (ISP), which would have resulted in additional increases of 12 cents for diesel and 9 cents for petrol.
This represents the highest diesel price ever recorded, according to calculations by Dinheiro Vivo (source in Portuguese). For petrol, this marks the highest level since the energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Portugal among the highest-priced countries
Fuel prices have been climbing across Europe throughout the year. In Germany, the Frankfurter Allgemeine (source in Portuguese) reported that fuel prices have reached an all-time high, with petrol exceeding the previous record of €2.203 per litre set in March 2022.
However, Portugal stands among the nations with the most expensive fuel. The fuel-prices website (source in Portuguese), which aggregates fuel prices across 21 European countries, revealed on Monday that Portugal holds the 19th position for the most expensive petrol, with only France and Denmark charging more.
Regarding diesel, Portugal’s ranking improves to 17th place, positioned ahead of the United Kingdom, Italy, France, and Denmark.
The escalating prices prompted Portugal’s Environment and Energy Minister, Maria da Graça Carvalho, to commission a study from the Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE).
Published in mid-August, the study found “no evidence of operators taking advantage” of the situation. It also dismissed the existence of a “rockets and feathers” phenomenon, where prices rise rapidly but decline slowly.
“The results therefore do not support the idea that price cuts are passed through in a persistently slower or less complete way than price increases,” the study concluded.
ERSE also attributed the price disparity with Spain to taxation differences, while emphasizing that Portugal’s tax burden has remained stable, “in line with most European Union and eurozone countries.”
Hormuz and refinery capacity
The surge in European fuel prices has been associated with the Middle East conflict and the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted critical trade routes.
Industry experts have also highlighted limitations on refinery capacity, even when crude oil supplies are available. This constraint particularly impacts diesel production.
On the fiscal policy front, an extraordinary tax on oil company profits is now under consideration. According to AFP, ministers from Portugal, Germany, Italy, Austria, Poland, and Spain have submitted a letter to Ireland’s finance minister, requesting that the issue be included on the agenda of the upcoming meeting of finance ministers. The meeting is scheduled for September 18 and 19 in Ireland, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.
