Bulgaria’s competition authority has intensified its examination of the wholesale fuel market, requesting additional cost and pricing information from Lukoil Bulgaria and Lukoil Neftochim Burgas. The request is part of an investigation into how crude-oil price movements, refinery costs and other inputs are reflected in wholesale petrol and diesel prices.
Scope of the wholesale pricing investigation
The investigation is assessing the transmission of changes in underlying inputs to wholesale petrol and diesel prices. It focuses on whether movements in crude-oil prices and refinery-related expenses are reflected in the pricing of wholesale products.
Information requested for May 1 to Sept. 28, 2026
The latest request covers the period from May 1 to Sept. 28, 2026. It requires detailed information on deliveries, production expenses, and the individual components used to calculate wholesale prices.
The companies have also been asked to explain how costs are calculated and allocated. They have seven days to submit the requested information to the regulator.
How the regulator plans to assess cost-to-price transmission
The regulator plans to compare movements in underlying production costs with changes in wholesale prices. The aim is to assess how quickly lower or higher input costs are transmitted to the Bulgarian market.
Extension of an existing examination
The latest request extends an existing examination of Lukoil’s position in Bulgaria’s fuel sector rather than opening an entirely new case. The investigation comes at a sensitive moment for regional fuel markets.
Refinery economics, crude-price volatility and changing supply routes continue to influence retail and wholesale pricing across the region.
