Fuel Prices Rise in Germany After Government Discount Ends

Fuel prices in Germany experienced a significant increase on Wednesday after the government’s discount program ended. This program had been introduced to ease the impact of rising oil prices caused by the outbreak of war in Iran.

According to data from the German Automobile Drivers Association, by 06:00 GMT, the average price per liter of premium gasoline "Super E10" rose by approximately 13.4 cents compared to the same time on Tuesday. Diesel prices recorded a larger increase of 15.6 cents per liter.

In May, the German government approved a temporary reduction in the energy tax on fuel, including gasoline and diesel, lowering it by 16.7 cents per liter. This measure aimed to alleviate the financial burden resulting from sharp increases in energy prices.

Although the discount ended at midnight, fuel stations could not immediately raise prices due to a regulatory rule implemented in April. This rule permits price increases only once daily at noon, while price reductions can occur at any time.

Indicators showed that many fuel station operators applied only slight price increases following the rise recorded at noon on Tuesday. Typically, prices tend to drop noticeably during the morning after reaching higher levels at midday.

By 08:00 GMT, the average price for a liter of premium gasoline "Super E10" across Germany reached 1.97 euros, while the average diesel price rose to 1.91 euros per liter.

Despite some fuel stations continuing to offer prices below 1.80 euros per liter, particularly for diesel, these lower prices are expected to gradually disappear throughout the day.