In its network consisting of 191 petrol stations in the country, Shell Hungary has introduced a restriction on the purchase of fuel at ten stations most used by international freight traffic.
The ten selected stations are situated next to the main transit routes. The decision was justified by increased demands. In the recent period, especially in recent weeks, due to the price cap on petrol prices introduced by the Hungarian Government, demand has increased dramatically.
Compared to the same period last year, there was already a strong increase in turnover in January, and in February petrol stations expect a further increase as well. The Hungarian Government has capped the petrol price at 1.35 euros/liter, above which no higher price can be set. The measure was introduced on 15 November 2021 and then extended in February for 3 months, until 15 May 2022.
Freight carriers and refuelers who purchase large batches of fuel have already started frequenting only the stations that are typically used by locals.
The number of foreign passengers and truck customers has also increased significantly. Due to the introduced price cap and the market situation, the price of petrol is more expensive in many of the neighboring countries, such as Austria or Slovakia. Those crossing the country often refuel their buses or trucks in Hungary, causing significant problems for these petrol stations.
Many stations find it challenging to keep their business profitable until the price cap is in order, and some stations may close temporarily or permanently. The number of intraday purchases is still not limited at these stations, only the one-time volume. The measure affects less than 10 % of Shell’s network, with only stations on motorways. The measures are valid until revoked.
