The Iran war is driving up oil prices. A barrel of crude oil now costs — at the end of February it was still around $72. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade route for oil tankers, is considered the main reason for the recent price jump.
Taxes and duties account for about 54 percent of the liter price for Super E10 and about 43 percent for diesel. The CO₂ levy currently ranges between 17 and 20 cents per liter. Energy tax and the 19 percent value-added tax also drive up costs.
The coalition committee of the CDU, CSU, and SPD has approved a short-term energy emergency program. The core is a temporary reduction of the energy tax by around 17 cents gross per liter for diesel and petrol, to apply from May 2026 for two months. The Federal Ministry of Finance expects total relief of around €1.6 billion for consumers and companies.
The association criticizes the mineral oil industry for disproportionate pricing.
Source: www.zdfheute.de
