An economic expert, citing data from the National Energy Regulatory Agency, noted that the maximum retail price of diesel fuel in Moldova in the third quarter of 2026 reached a new all-time high of 35.53 lei per liter, up from 34.98 lei in the second quarter. According to his calculations, diesel fuel has exceeded the previous record set in 2022 of 32.46 lei per liter for the second consecutive quarter, and the new high was approximately 3.1 lei (+9.5%) higher than that record. The highest price for gasoline in the third quarter was 33.56 lei per liter, falling just short—by 34 bani (about 1%)—of the all-time high set in 2022 at 33.9 lei. Veaceslav Ioniță also noted a sharp increase in price volatility: the difference between the minimum and maximum prices for diesel fuel was 13.49 lei per liter in the first quarter, 10.57 lei in the second quarter, and 10.81 lei in the third quarter, whereas the average quarterly deviation in 2023–2025 was around 2.7 lei. Thus, over the course of three quarters, volatility in the diesel fuel market was approximately 4–5 times higher than the usual level in recent years. According to the expert, pressure on the diesel fuel segment is particularly significant for Moldova's economy, as this type of fuel directly affects costs in agriculture, freight transportation, construction, and logistics, creating a broader inflationary effect. Veaceslav Ioniță attributes the price increase to simultaneous disruptions in production and supply, tensions along routes through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, a reduction in refining capacity and global reserves, as well as restrictions on Russian exports of petroleum products. According to data from the International Energy Agency that he cited, global oil reserves fell by 95 million barrels in August alone and by approximately 507 million barrels since February. The ANRE formula for calculating maximum fuel prices—which uses average Platts quotes and the exchange rate from the previous 14 days—has an additional impact on the domestic market, causing external price changes to be reflected in Moldovan prices with a delay. According to Veaceslav Ioniță, if current external conditions persist, there remains a high risk of rising fuel prices, and the 2026 crisis—unlike the short-lived shock of 2022—is becoming protracted. // 17.09.2026 — InfoMarket.