As of Monday midnight fuel prices in Croatia are "considerably higher," state agency Hina said on Tuesday, adding that the price of one liter of Eurosuper 95 increased by 0.26 kuna (€0.02) from last week." Price of diesel increased by 0.40 kuna (€0.03) and the price of natural gas for cars increased by 0.13 kuna (€0.01), "which is due to a rise in oil prices on world markets." Hina did not express the price hikes in percentages.

“The average 50-litre tank of diesel fuel now costs 19.5 kuna (€2.60) more, a tank of petrol costs 13 kuna (€1.70) more, while the average tank of car gas costs 11.5 (€1.53) more,” Hina calculated.

Citing prices collected by CijeneGoriva.info fuel website, one liter of Eurosuper 95 sold at INA petrol stations now costs 11.35 kuna (€1.51) on average, Lukoil stations sell it at 11.36 kuna, Tifon stations at 11.39 kuna, and Petrol at 11.40 kuna. The higher-quality Eurosuper 100 costs 11.99 kuna per litre (Tifon, Petrol, Crodux, INA).

The price of the basic Eurodiesel, “once a fuel with a fairly acceptable price,” Hina said, has now reached “very high levels.” One litre of Eurodiesel at Crodux stations now costs 11.40 kuna, INA sells it at 11.42 kuna, and Lukoil at 11.43 kuna.

“Fuel prices in Croatia have also been rising due to a high dollar exchange rate,” Hina said, without citing sources. Last week the value of euro slid by 0.2 percent to 1.1570 dollars, which is by far its lowest level in 14 months.

Considering the rise in fuel prices, Finance Minister Zdravko Maric Maric was asked by reporters if the government was considering reducing taxes on fuel, which reportedly account for about 60 percent of retail fuel prices, to offset the impact of price hikes.

Maric answered without giving an answer.

“Nothing is untouchable, everything can be subject to discussion. If we decide that that will result in some effects, we will be prepared for such a move… I would neither confirm nor dismiss any of the options at the moment,” Maric said.

(€1 = 7.51 kuna)