Fuel prices have risen sharply around the world after the Iran War that started in February affected global oil markets. Despite Turkey introducing the automatic tax adjustment system known as the “sliding scale” mechanism to limit price fluctuations, the country recorded the highest annual fuel price increase among European countries.
According to data from Eurostat, Turkey ranked first among 39 European countries in May 2026, with fuel prices increasing by 42.9 percent compared with the same period last year. The European Union average remained at 20.7 percent, meaning the increase in Turkey was more than twice the European average.
Bulgaria followed Turkey with a 33.9 percent increase, while Luxembourg recorded 32.2 percent, Kosovo 31.2 percent, Lithuania 30.8 percent, Romania 30.4 percent, France 29.2 percent, Latvia 28.3 percent, the Netherlands and Georgia 27.6 percent, and Belgium 27 percent.
Meanwhile, Iceland was the only country where fuel prices decreased, with a decline of 24.3 percent.
Pump Prices Reflect the Increase
Retail fuel prices in Turkey also confirmed the sharp rise. In Istanbul, diesel prices increased from 46.11 Turkish lira per litre in May 2025 to 67 lira in May 2026, representing an increase of approximately 45.3 percent.
Gasoline prices rose from 46.84 lira per litre to 64.30 lira during the same period, an increase of around 37.3 percent.
Diesel Prices Increased by Nearly 50 Percent
A separate Eurostat assessment showed that across the European Union, diesel prices in May 2026 were 29 percent higher than the previous year, while gasoline prices increased by 16.2 percent.
According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), diesel prices in Turkey increased by 50.37 percent during the same period, while gasoline prices rose by 39.53 percent.
Monthly figures showed a different picture. In May, diesel prices across the EU decreased by 5.8 percent compared with April. Diesel prices increased only in Romania, while all other EU countries recorded declines.
In Turkey, diesel prices also decreased in May compared with the previous month, falling by 7.7 percent.
For gasoline, 23 EU countries recorded monthly increases. While gasoline prices across the European Union rose by an average of 0.8 percent in May, Turkey recorded a 2.7 percent monthly increase, remaining above the European average.
Rising Energy Costs in Turkey
The latest figures highlight the strong impact of global oil market developments on Turkey’s fuel prices and show how energy costs continue to affect households, transportation, and businesses across the country.
Keywords: #Turkey #Fuel #Prices #Energy #Oil #Diesel #Gasoline #Eurostat #Inflation #Economy #Petrol #Europe #Markets #Transportation #Costs #Increase #Istanbul #TÜİK #Global #Crisis
