Sweden will be among the cheapest countries in Europe when it comes to petrol and diesel after the temporary tax reduction introduced on Wednesday.
If you adjust the average June prices per country from the industry organisation M Sverige by 3 kronor per litre lower tax, Sweden becomes the second cheapest among 35 countries for petrol. If you want to find cheaper petrol, you have to drive down to North Macedonia.
Onslaught expected
On the diesel front, Sweden becomes the fifth cheapest country - after Bosnia, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Poland.
Energy economist Claes Hemberg at heat pump manufacturer Nibe is critical, as the electricity tax is not following suit.
According to Hemberg, the price of petrol this summer is now on track to reach 13 kronor per litre, the lowest level since 1999, thanks largely to a series of tax cuts that have pushed down the petrol tax from 8.58 kronor to 1.96 kronor per litre in five years.
Swedish gas station owners are currently working hard to fill fuel tanks and prepare for an expected rush of customers on Wednesday.
I'm going to Strömstad tomorrow to talk to our staff there, says Anders Svensson, business area manager at car dealer Brandt, which operates the Tankas gas station chain around the E6 in western Sweden.
Norwegian drivers in particular are a large customer group in the area. And there have already been reports earlier this year of heavy queues when Norwegian prices have soared more than Swedish prices.
In Strömstad and Ed we see how the volumes are increasing, but also in Hunnebostrand out on the west coast if you compare it to the previous year. It's a bit surprising. But in Strömstad, the answer there is that it's the Norwegians, he says.
"They will be busy"
He assesses the risk of empty gas stations as small.
David Sällh, responsible for preparedness at the industry organisation Drivkraft Sverige, fills in:
"You have our neighbours in the Nordic countries, who are coming over, of course. That has an impact," he says.
There may be a short-term shortage of fuel for a few hours. But that will be fixed. There is fuel. There is no worry that it will run out. It is more the deliveries that may take time, he adds.
He expects that the gas lines will gradually ease.
It's probably only the first few days that you'll see that situation. But they'll be busy, the tanker drivers, driving back and forth.
The energy tax on petrol and diesel has already been reduced to the EU minimum level during the period 1 May-30 September. This cost just over 1.6 billion kronor and, including VAT, is said to have reduced the price of petrol at the pump by around 1 kronor, while the price of diesel is said to have fallen by around 40 öre per litre.
On top of this, on May 27, the government presented a support measure in the form of a temporary reduction in the carbon dioxide tax on fuel of SEK 7.7 billion, which, including VAT, means that fossil fuels will be SEK 3 cheaper per litre. This tax reduction applies during the period July 1-30 November.
Source: Government
