The price of oil and gasoline in the domestic market is approaching record levels recorded during the war in Ukraine. According to a Monitor survey, today at retail points oil is being traded at a price of 226 to 229 lek per liter, up from 219 lek per liter which was the previous price. Oil has increased from 7 lek to 10 lek per liter.
Gasoline prices have also increased. From 205 Lek, which was the previous price, today it has started to be traded at 216 and 219 Lek per liter. Gasoline has increased from 11 to 14 Lek per liter.
After the start of the conflict in the Middle East, the price of oil has increased significantly, fluctuating at levels of 219-224 lek per liter, from around 175 lek per liter before the start of the conflict.
But this is the highest fuel price increase since 2022 when the Russian aggression in Ukraine began.
In March 2022, the price of oil reached a record level for just 1 day at 265 lek per liter. While for several consecutive days, oil was traded at 230 to 235 lek per liter.
The increase in oil prices in the domestic market came after the sudden increase in oil prices in foreign markets on September 10.
Two days ago, Brent crude oil reached a peak of 110 USD per barrel, up from 100 USD previously. Today, oil is trading at 104 USD per barrel on the stock exchange.
High inflation was also noted in the Platts price, which is used as a reference for customs clearance of imports.
The final Platts price reached 1,619 USD per ton, an increase of 165 USD per ton from the previous price. (On September 10, 2026, the Platts HCIF oil price reached 1,571.5 USD per ton, while together with the premium of 30 USD per ton and the corresponding calculation, the final price reached approximately 1,619.13 USD/ton.)
The sudden increase in prices on international markets was influenced by the conflict situation in Yemen, which led to a decrease in ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of world production is transported, and difficulties in passing through the Red Sea.
Operators: Situation more serious than ever, global oil supply at risk
Market operators claim that with the blockage of the main pipeline in Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea by the shale, on Monday, prices risk reaching unprecedented levels in history. They add that together with the situation in Ukraine, the situation is the most serious in history. This risks that there will be no product on the market at all, as global producers are making plans to completely block exports, while during these seven months commercial and strategic reserves have gone close to zero.
The operators add that in this situation, the government must seriously reflect and see the reality, as this situation cannot be solved with boards or public intervention with websites that publish prices. Albania remains the only country in the region that has not taken mitigating measures to reduce the fiscal burden, which is the highest in the region, on the contrary, it has benefited by collecting more revenue in the budget from the more expensive oil./ Monitor
