Rapidly rising fuel prices are putting increasing pressure on Polish transport companies and businesses whose operations depend heavily on road transport. Forecasts for 7–13 September point to average petrol prices of PLN 7.83–7.99 per litre and diesel at PLN 8.79–8.87. Carriers warn that at today’s low margins, further increases will have to be passed on through higher transport rates and, ultimately, higher prices for goods and services.
‘On the one hand there are no longer daily surprises — the prices are already enormous and everyone in the industry knows it. On the other hand, when entrepreneurs see their businesses sinking because costs are rising at a pace they cannot control, it is difficult to stay calm,’ says Dariusz Matulewicz, president of the West Pomeranian Association of Road Carriers.
Higher fuel costs are spreading across the economy
Business organisations say the problem is no longer limited to transport and logistics. Companies in trade, services, food production, chemicals and industry are also reporting that rapidly rising fuel costs are eating into already thin margins.
‘Potential profit is being consumed by higher fuel costs. This is particularly painful for companies operating on low margins. We are receiving signals from gastronomy, bakeries, confectionery businesses, manufacturing and industry that fuel prices have moved beyond what companies can comfortably absorb,’ says Hanna Mojsiuk, president of the Northern Chamber of Commerce in Szczecin.
She argues that if current price levels persist, the impact will increasingly be visible in the prices of basic goods and services.
Businesses call for stabilising measures
The Northern Chamber of Commerce says it is preparing proposals with experts and intends to present them to the government. Business groups acknowledge that permanent fuel-price support is unrealistic, but argue that temporary measures may be needed if the current shock threatens a wave of business failures.
For the second week of September, forecasts point to petrol Pb95 at PLN 7.83–7.99 per litre, diesel at PLN 8.79–8.87 and LPG at PLN 2.90–2.99. That makes PLN 9 per litre at some stations a realistic possibility.
Transport companies are already adjusting prices
Road carriers say fuel-price indexation clauses and higher customer charges are becoming unavoidable. That means transport prices are rising even when clients resist accepting the new rates.
‘We simply have no choice. Many companies have already suspended operations and many others are considering it,’ Matulewicz says.
Transport organisations also argue that geopolitical factors do not fully explain the scale of domestic price increases and are calling for greater scrutiny of the pricing environment in Poland.
The broader economic consequence is straightforward: if fuel remains expensive, the pressure will not stop with logistics companies. Higher transport costs will increasingly flow through to retail prices, industrial production and service costs across the economy.
