German diesel price drops to pre‑war level as tank rebate ends

Diesel prices in Germany fell to the pre‑Iran‑war level just before the nationwide tank rebate expires on 30 June. ADAC data show a weekend average of €1.733 / L on Friday and €1.738 / L on Sunday, about 1‑2 cents below the last pre‑war price on 27 February. The rebate, which reduces the fuel tax by €0.167 per litre, has kept prices low; its removal will add that amount back to the pump price, and experts expect a similar rise in early July.

The price fall is also linked to a sharp drop in crude‑oil markets. Brent crude fell to about $79 / bbl after the United States and Iran made progress in peace talks that eased the “Hormuz street” blockade that had pushed prices above $120 / bbl in March.

Similar trends appear in neighbouring markets: Austria’s average pump price this week was €1.614 / L for gasoline and €1.685 / L for diesel, close to pre‑war levels, while Luxembourg’s state‑set maximums keep diesel at €1.623 / L. Analysts note that, if oil prices stay low, diesel and E10 could remain under €2 / L even after the rebate ends.

The federal government spent roughly €1.6 billion on the rebate, with the Monopol Commission estimating that €0.1‑0.2 billion of the tax cut may not have been passed on to consumers. ADAC’s Christian Laberer warned: “It is to be feared that prices will rise by about this amount.” The ÖAMTC warned that “higher mark‑ups remain compared with the pre‑war period.” Drivers are advised to fill up before the end of June, especially before the 12 p.m. price‑adjustment cut‑off on 1 July.