Beijing, — Starting from 24:00 on March 23, 2026, China has implemented temporary control measures on domestic gasoline and diesel prices to buffer the impact of sharply rising international crude oil prices and reduce costs for households and businesses.
Since the last round of fuel price adjustments on March 9, escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have driven international crude oil prices sharply higher. According to the regular domestic fuel pricing mechanism, the theoretical increase would have been 2,205 yuan per ton for gasoline and 2,120 yuan per ton for diesel.
Temporary Control Measures
To stabilize economic operations and protect livelihoods, China has implemented phased price adjustments while keeping the overall pricing mechanism unchanged:
- Gasoline: actual increase of 1,160 yuan per ton
- Diesel: actual increase of 1,115 yuan per ton
- Nationwide, the average per-liter increase for gasoline and diesel is about 0.85 yuan
This adjustment cuts the originally planned increase by nearly half, effectively alleviating inflationary pressure on transportation, manufacturing, and daily household consumption.
Policy Objectives
Authorities stated that the main goals of the temporary control are:
- To offset external shocks caused by sharp fluctuations in international oil prices
- To reduce cost burdens on downstream industries and ordinary consumers
- To ensure stable domestic economic operations and livelihoods
Next Price Adjustment Window
The next refined oil price adjustment is scheduled for 24:00 on April 7, 2026. The specific adjustment will depend on recent changes in international crude oil prices.
Source: National Development and Reform Commission of China, Official Release, March 23, 2026
