Today, the tax on fuel is reduced by SEK 1.80 per liter

From 1 May, the tax on fuel will be reduced by SEK 1.80 per liter, according to a recent Riksdag decision.

But before the reduction, the price has only risen this week by almost one kroner a liter.

- The geopolitical situation is unstable right now and it is difficult to say whether the tax cut will result in a direct price cut.

There is much to suggest that prices will be reduced, but it is unclear how much, says Jessica Alenius, CEO of the industry organization Drivkraft Sverige.

The crude oil price decides

Above all, it is about what happens to the cyclically sensitive crude oil price during the weekend, Alenius says.

At EU level, it has been discussed this week whether a ban on Russian energy should be introduced or not.

- Even the fact that there is talk of introducing a ban, which in practice would mean a reduction in supply, has an effect on the price and that is exactly what has happened.

And this uncertainty is something that we will unfortunately have to live with for a long time, she says.

Even if Russia and Ukraine conclude peace, the sanctions will remain much longer and it is the sanctions that primarily affect the price of crude oil, says Alenius.

More suggestions are expected

The government has promised a proposal in another additional amending budget, an upcoming one, for compensation to all car owners for increased fuel prices.

According to the proposal, those who owned a car on 1 March will receive SEK 1,000 in compensation and people in sparsely populated areas SEK 1,500 sometime this autumn.

But the opposition instead wants the government to demand an exemption from the EU's energy tax directive and not levy energy tax at all until this autumn.