Unimot, Poland’s largest independent fuel importer, expects the country’s new windfall tax to be paid by just two producers: Orlen and Saudi Aramco. The company estimates it will not owe an advance payment for the period from 1 March to 30 September 2026, while Orlen has put its own preliminary liability at PLN 2 billion for March-August this year.
Adam Sikorski, the president of Grupa Unimot, said on Biznes24 on Friday, 2 October, that the levy will cover far fewer businesses than is commonly assumed.
– As of today, we believe this tax will not cover us. It will generally cover far fewer companies than is commonly believed. In my view it will probably hit only fuel producers, that is Orlen and Saudi Aramco. There are economic reasons why this will be the case – said Adam Sikorski, president of Grupa Unimot.
Unimot stated on Friday morning that, according to its own calculations, it will not be required to pay an advance on the tax on extraordinary profits for the period running from 1 March to 30 September 2026. The company added that this assessment does not settle its possible tax liability for the whole year.
– The above assessment does not determine the possible tax liability of the UNIMOT Group for the whole of 2026. Its final amount will depend, among others, on the results achieved by the UNIMOT Group in the fourth quarter of 2026, market conditions and the manner of application and interpretation of the act, as well as on the ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal – the company said in its communication.
Orlen gave its own numbers in a stock exchange filing published the same day. WNP.PL asked the concern’s press office to comment on Sikorski’s words and is waiting for a reply.
– Orlen estimates the preliminary liability resulting from the tax on extraordinary profits at PLN 2 billion for the period from March to August 2026 – the Plock-based company said in a Friday stock exchange filing.
Not a levy on excess profits
Sikorski argues that the windfall tax is not a tax on extraordinary profits, but a tax on the difference in revenue. He recalled the legislative path that led to the current version of the rules: the first bill, in his words, was riddled with glaring errors, because it allowed a company earning PLN 100 million gross to face a tax bill of, for example, PLN 200 million. A 100 percent cap was introduced at the Senate stage.
– We breathed a little easier, but then President Nawrocki vetoed it. In this new bill, which President Nawrocki signed yesterday, that cap was lowered to 50 percent – said Adam Sikorski.
He pointed out that the shape of the act and the revenue difference it uses compared with the previous year mean that Unimot will be able to state unambiguously only after the settlement period closes that the levy is neutral for the company.
Cheaper fuel from Saturday
The act signed by President Karol Nawrocki on Thursday is the second piece of legislation the government has prepared on the tax on extraordinary profits of fuel companies. The earlier bill never entered into force, because in August the president referred it to the Constitutional Tribunal in a preventive review, pointing to its unconstitutionality.
Formally, the law on the windfall tax says nothing about the Ceny Paliwa Niżej (Lower Fuel Prices) programme, although the government made its return conditional on the president’s signature. The package is being restored through a separate regulation.
– Immediately after the president’s decision, when the act reached the Government Legislation Centre, we began work – the Ministry of Finance – on the regulations. Once these regulations are ready, we will work on the announcement. We want to issue it today, so that from tomorrow prices are lower and valid across the country – said Miłosz Motyka, Minister of Energy, on Polish Radio on Friday.
– Fuel prices, depending on wholesale prices, will be lower; we forecast PLN 1.2-1.3 less per litre – said Miłosz Motyka.
– PLN 1.2 per litre of 95 petrol, PLN 1.3 per litre of diesel – added Miłosz Motyka.
The government restored the Ceny Paliwa Niżej package: VAT on fuels was cut from 23 percent to 8 percent, excise duty was reduced to the lowest level allowed in the European Union, and maximum prices announced by the Minister of Energy returned to petrol stations. Under the announcement issued by the ministry, the new price ceilings take effect on Saturday, 3 October.
Shares moved down as the details emerged. PKN Orlen traded at PLN 145.06, a drop of 0.75 percent, while Unimot stood at PLN 148.80, down 0.93 percent.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Karol Serewis / Shutterstock
