Spain's diesel nears €2: Who pays the fuel tax?

Spanish Diesel: From €1.65 to €2, The Costly Reality

Brent crude stands at $101.60, pushing Spanish diesel prices close to two euros per liter. This is not a temporary spike; fiscal pressure and oil company margins have made refueling a luxury for middle-income households. With a monthly salary of €1,200, maintaining a car becomes unviable, clashing with claims of economic resilience.

The Liter Breakdown: Where Every Cent Goes

Analysis of diesel pricing shows that out of €1.65 per liter, approximately €0.90 covers raw materials and logistics. Total taxes account for €0.75. Nearly half the price ends up in public coffers. In the United States, where fuel taxation is much lower, gasoline costs around €0.80 per liter. The difference stems from aggressive revenue collection, not crude oil costs.

Salaries That Can't Fill the Tank

With net earnings of €1,200 a month, fuel expenses can exceed 30% of income if a car is needed for work in industrial areas. Even with €2,000 monthly, the situation is critical in cities like Madrid or Barcelona, where rent or mortgage payments render average incomes insufficient. Considering those earning €2,000 as wealthy looks absurd when viewing grocery bills and diesel prices.

Speculation or Design: Who Drives Prices Up?

Part of the current increase results from refining oil purchased when barrels cost between $60 and $70, raising suspicions of speculative components. However, the structural factor is tax policy: the European Union has proposed a minimum diesel tax for 2027, and the Spanish government seems unwilling to relinquish this revenue. Consequently, the service economy and small businesses may struggle to sustain employment and activity levels.

Is There a Way Out Beyond Complaints?

Debate stalls between those defending ecological transition as justification for higher costs and those seeing direct fiscal exploitation. Meanwhile, citizens needing cars for work see tank fill-ups rise from €50 to €70 or €80. Comparisons with the US—where filling a V8 truck costs less than a coffee in Spain—highlight that the issue is not crude oil, but cost structures imposed by Brussels and Moncloa. At this rate, two-euro diesel is not a future hypothesis; it is the next step on an already climbing ladder.