Copenhagen, September 18, 2025 — Competition in Denmark’s retail market for gasoline and diesel has deteriorated since the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to higher prices at the pump and a loss of local price rivalry, according to the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (DCCA).
In its latest review of the sector, the watchdog found that the local price competition which previously characterized the market has “reduced sharply” since spring 2020. Gas stations across regions now largely post identical prices and adjust them simultaneously, a dynamic shift that has left consumers facing higher and more uniform fuel costs.
The authority first flagged concerns in 2022, but at the time concluded that the weakened competition was not the result of violations of competition law. Officials had expected that as demand rebounded post-pandemic, local competition would return. However, the regulator now acknowledges that this has not materialized.
“The dynamics of the market have changed significantly, and the expected recovery of competition has not taken place,” the authority said.
