Despite the fuel tax discount, prices in Germany have risen again after an initial drop. ADAC and the Federal Cartel Office criticize that the 17-cent-per-liter tax cut is not fully passed on to consumers. Oil companies and associations dispute this.
The fuel tax discount took effect on May 1, 2026, reducing the energy tax by nearly 17 cents per liter for fuel delivered from that date. On the first day, Super E10 averaged 1.99 euros per liter nationwide, as reported by the Federal Cartel Office at 10:14 a.m. It dipped to 1.981 euros just before noon but jumped to 2.099 euros. Diesel was 2.063 euros at 11:45 a.m. and rose to 2.193 euros after noon.
By Sunday, daily average prices were only 10 to 11 cents below April 30 levels (Super E10: 2.126 euros, Diesel: 2.215 euros). The ADAC concludes: "The development is going in the wrong direction." A spokeswoman criticized: "Oil companies are raising prices again without justification from rising crude oil prices."
The Federal Cartel Office stressed the tax cut aims to relieve consumers. President Andreas Mundt said: "Oil companies are merely trustees of this relief; it is not intended for them. It must reach customers." The Federal Ministry of Finance expects pass-through and will monitor it.
The oil industry disagrees. The Fuels and Energy Association stated: "Measured against April 30 pump prices, the discount is fully passed on by branded stations." World market prices have risen due to the escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf. The bft fuel station association views price fluctuations as a "usual market phenomenon" and notes the discount's delayed effect.
