Andorra Caps Fuel Price Rises Amid Conflict Surge

Andorra's fuel stations have limited price rises to just two or three cents per litre in the initial days of the conflict, far below the sharp increases seen in neighbouring countries.

David Porqueres, president of the Association of Fuel Importers and Distributors (Asidca), said the local market has so far contained the global surge triggered by the war. "Neighbouring countries have seen very strong increases in recent days," he noted, pointing to some low-cost Spanish stations that raised petrol prices by 10 cents and diesel by 15 cents, pushing diesel close to €1.43 per litre.

In Andorra, prices yesterday hovered around €1.28 per litre for diesel and €1.32 for 95-octane petrol, maintaining a 10-to-15-cent advantage over those Spanish low-cost outlets. Porqueres highlighted even larger gaps with stations nearer the border, such as Esclat in La Seu d'Urgell, where diesel reached €1.55 and petrol €1.57—differences of 25 to 27 cents. French stations have also climbed 15 to 20 cents this week, widening Andorran differentials to about 40 cents for diesel and 60 cents for petrol.

"We see that beyond the borders, the price escalation is hitting much harder than here," Porqueres said. He cautioned, however, that further rises in the oil barrel price would eventually force local adjustments, though "with great prudence."

The barrel price, after jumping from $72 to $82 initially, stabilised around $83 yesterday and has held steady for a couple of days. Porqueres observed it shows signs of stalling, remaining well below the $140 peak during the Ukraine crisis.

In other conflict-related updates, the Andorran Mountaineering Federation confirmed its ski mountaineering team at the European Championships in Azerbaijan is safe and competing normally in Shahdagh. A drone incident in the Nakhchivan region has not affected the event or Baku facilities, with the federation monitoring via the foreign affairs ministry.

Separately, another Andorran businessman returned yesterday from Dubai on a flight to Madrid after business travel left him stranded. Twenty-four residents remain stuck in Persian Gulf countries—15 Andorrans, five French residents and four Spaniards—either in transit to Andorra or other destinations, according to the government.