ADAC criticizes slow pass-through of falling oil prices to gas stations

Background: Easing on the oil market

The background to this development is a relaxation on the oil market. The agreement between the USA and Iran is causing oil prices to fall. Fuel prices are reacting only hesitantly to the easing in the Middle East. The ADAC sees this as a failure on the part of the mineral oil industry to pass the falling wholesale prices on to end customers in a timely manner.

Diesel has also continued to show a downward trend recently. At 1.829 euros, the fuel was 2.3 cents cheaper on Sunday than on Wednesday. Nevertheless, the markup compared to the pre-war level is still noticeably above the values before the conflict, although in the case of E10 the gap is only 9.9 cents according to the figures cited.

Fuel discount: Relief with an expiration date

Current prices are, however, being pushed down by the fuel discount, through which the federal government is foregoing 16.7 cents per liter in taxes. Without this relief, consumer prices would therefore be higher than the quoted 1.877 euros for Super E10 and 1.829 euros for diesel. The discount noticeably cushions the burden on drivers.

However, the relief is time-limited. It expires at the end of the month – and pump prices are then likely to rise again. If the pass-through of lower oil prices continues to fail to materialize by then, drivers would be hit twice: by the end of the fuel discount and by a missing price reduction despite cheaper crude oil prices.

Outlook: What threatens after the end of the month

The ADAC points out that in the past the mineral oil companies have often passed on price reductions on the crude oil markets to customers more quickly than they are doing now. A rapid adjustment is necessary so that consumers actually benefit from the easing on the world market, it said from Munich.

In the medium term, developments depend on several factors: the course of talks between the USA and Iran, the production policy of OPEC+, and the question of whether the federal government is planning a follow-up arrangement after the fuel discount expires. Until then, the situation for drivers remains cheaper at first glance, but uncertain at second glance.