Currently, there are few media reports about prices in the petroleum products market, since such media are controlled by premium segment lobbyists who insistently stress the need to raise prices, due to biased assessments – a fragmentary picture of the rising petrol prices in the international market, the so-called increase in logistics costs, decreasing stocks in the USA, etc.

I propose to look at the prices of the motor fuel market from the viewpoint of consumer interests. Facts show that we currently observe a significant difference in prices between discounters and premium chains for fuel of roughly the same quality, which is imported from Europe and undergoes standard testing regardless of the company that buys it.

For the Ukrainian motor fuel market, the role of small and medium businesses (SMEs) is very important for the following reasons:

1. They allow car owners to save significant funds in the conditions of falling incomes in the country due to the war:
2. They serve as a safeguard against uncontrolled price rise thanks to price competition with large chains
3. They contain inflation. The increase in petroleum product prices is a significant factor leading to the increase in prices of food, consumer goods and services.
4. They help consumers in remote rural areas and in the frontline zone, not interesting in the premium segment products.

In this regard, it is advisable to cancel the introduced advance payment on profit, which exerts much greater financial pressure on SMEs than on large chains, since they have much smaller revenues. In fact, this payment works to strengthen the market grip of the premium segment and against the interests of consumers. At the same time, the strong increase in the excise tax rate on motor fuel from January 1 of this year will boost the 2026 State Budget revenues much greater than the additional revenues in 2025 from the advance payment on profit.

1. Average prices by petrol station class

Judging by publicly available data, the average prices for A-95 petrol look as follows:

The difference between the discounter and premium classes is about 6.8 UAH/l, which is a significant burden on the consumer's wallet.

2. Regional analysis: where consumers lose the most

Let us calculate the difference between the price of premium and discounter classes in each region:

Rating of regions by the price difference

Interestingly, the prices at premium petrol stations almost do not differ by region. Isn't it a sign of the lack of competition between premium chains?

The main difference in prices is seen where discounters keep minimum prices. So, the greatest consumer gains from choosing petrol stations with minimum prices are observed in:

• Zaporizhia region (9.02 UAH/l)
• Chernihiv region (8.47 UAH/l)
• Chernivtsi region (8.39 UAH/l)
• Ternopil region (8.30 UAH/l)

3. Financial gains for consumers

Equation:

• Gas station: 50 l
• Difference = Δ UAH/l × 50 l
• Annual expenditures: (15,000 km / average consumption 8 l/100 km ≈ 120 refuellings) × Δ UAH/gas station
• Operation period: 20 years
• USD exchange rate (average, as of the beginning of 2026): ≈ 43.18 UAH/USD

Example of calculation (Zaporizha region, Δ = 9.02 UAH/l):

• Saving on one refuelling: 9.02 × 50 = 451 UAH
• Savings over one year: 451 × 120 = 54,120 UAH
• Savings over 20 years: 54,120 × 20 = 1,082,400 UAH
• In USD: 1,082,400 / 43.18 ≈ 25,070 USD

Aggregate savings:

• Average difference across the country (6.8 UAH/l):
• For one refuelling: ≈ ​​340 UAH
• For one year: ≈ 40,800 UAH
• For 20 years: ≈ 816,000 UAH
• In USD: ≈ 18,900 USD

Consumers in Ukraine significantly overpay at premium petrol stations. The biggest losses associated with expensive fuel are recorded in Zaporizhia, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi and Ternopil regions, where the difference exceeds 8–9 UAH per liter. For an average motorist, this means almost 19 thousand USD in losses over the entire life of his car.

Premium petrol stations offer comfort and brand, but from the viewpoint of economy – this is a luxury that the consumer pays for out of his pocket. This payment over the life of the car equals its cost.

https://razumkov.org.ua/statti/benzyn-a95-v-ukraini-skilky-pereplachuie-spozhyvach