Higher fuel prices have led households in Greece to reduce non-essential travel, with gasoline prices remaining above €2 per liter. Distributor preliminary estimates indicate the pattern was visible in March and April and intensified further in May. The changes were reflected in consumption figures for both fuels.
Gasoline consumption declines amid elevated prices
Petrol demand totaled 343,086 tons across March and April, according to government data. That level represented a 2.2% decrease versus the same period a year earlier. Early industry estimates suggest the decline widened to around 5% in May.
The distributor estimates point to continued consumer adjustments as gasoline prices stayed elevated. The data show that the reduction in petrol consumption accelerated after March and April. This shift aligns with households cutting back on travel tied to higher pump costs.
Diesel demand holds near last year’s levels
Diesel consumption has remained broadly stable compared with petrol, with usage during the first two months after the conflict outbreak at 468,968 tons. That figure was close to last year’s levels. Analysts attribute the resilience to diesel’s role in freight transport, agriculture, and industrial activity.
Demand for diesel in those sectors is described as less sensitive to price increases than consumer travel-related fuel use. The contrast between petrol and diesel consumption is reflected in the reported monthly direction of change. Diesel demand therefore continued without a comparable drop in the same period.
Greek diesel subsidy extended as Middle East tensions lift costs
The Greek government extended its diesel support program amid concerns about inflationary pressures from rising energy costs. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the subsidy will remain through June, providing a discount of €0.15 per liter. The government stated the measure keeps diesel prices roughly €0.3 per liter below levels recorded in March.
Even with the subsidy, diesel prices have increased since the start of Middle East conflict tensions. The rise has been linked to disruptions in global energy markets after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, described as a key route for oil shipments. Despite support measures, petrol consumers have continued reducing travel and overall fuel consumption as prices increased.
