The tank discount ends at the end of August. Motorists will then have to pay the full price for petrol and diesel again. FOCUS Online lists the three scenarios that drivers are now facing.
On June 1st, expectations at the pump were high. As part of the federal government’s billion-dollar relief package, the tank discount was introduced at midnight sharp. Germans should save three months when refueling.
According to the federal government’s plans at the time, it was to be 29.55 cents per liter of petrol and 14.04 cents per liter of diesel cheaper at the pump. If drivers add value added tax, the savings should even be 35 cents for petrol and 17 cents for diesel.
As a result, the liter of diesel should fall below two euros. Petrol should cost less than 1.90 euros per liter.
However, expectations were not fully met at the beginning. Gradually and before the start of the tank discount, gas stations and oil companies had raised the prices at the pump sharply. In June, motorists paid more than two euros for a liter of Super and more than 2.10 euros for a liter of diesel.
The tank discount ends on August 31 and at midnight sharp. Are extortionate prices threatening again?
Motorists should know that the prices for petrol and diesel will rise as a result of the abolition of the tank discount. The only thing that is unclear is how high the inflation will be.
Motorists currently pay the national average
If you count away the tank discount, lies
Experts expect that the price will rise sharply again in the last week of August.
The elimination of the tank discount then ensures above-average demand. That drives up the prices. Apparently the industry is well prepared and there will not be a bottleneck.
Compare fuel prices in your area throughout August. Apps that you install on your smartphone can help. Well-known providers are ADAC, Mehr Tanken, Clever Tanken or Bertha. Google Maps also lists the current fuel prices for many German cities.
As a rule, drive in the evening between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to fill up. Especially on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday you can save a lot of money at the pump. It is most expensive at the German petrol pumps on the weekends. Gas station operators also call for high fuel prices in the morning and at night.
If you have to travel long distances, avoid motorway service stations and use exits into surrounding small towns. Ideally, this results in savings of up to 8 cents per liter.
Unlikely. Petrol station operators can buy cheap diesel and petrol until 31 August and 11:59 p.m. sharp. These goods are usually not delivered until the beginning of September. As a result, motorists should also benefit from the tank discount in September.
Possible scenarios could occur from September 1st:
Ideally, the first scenario occurs. Because the oil price has been falling since the beginning of July and no rising oil prices are to be expected for the time being, prices at the pump should not actually rise any further. The operators also buy cheap petrol and diesel until the end of August, price increases would be a case for the cartel watchdogs.
But it is unclear whether the mineral oil companies will pass on the low price of raw materials and their discount purchases.
Due to the insecure attitude of companies, drivers should also be prepared for the third scenario. The price of diesel could rise to 2.10 euros per liter. Gasoline would cost over 2.15 euros per liter from September.
A massive price explosion, as envisaged in the second scenario, cannot be ruled out, but is considered unlikely. Crude oil has become cheaper again on the trading market.
In mid-July, the price for a barrel (159 liters) of US crude oil type WTI fell to around 100 US dollars. It was almost back to pre-war levels. After the outbreak of the Ukraine war, the 139 US dollar mark was broken. At the beginning of August 2022, a barrel of North Sea Brent cost just US$98.89. In early February, it was $89.42.
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Various factors are behind this development, as Commerzbank commodities expert Carsten Fritsch explains in an analysis. This development is primarily being driven by China. The second largest economy in the world is also one of the largest consumers of oil. The number of corona cases is currently increasing there.
Demand falls. At the same time, China is now importing significantly more Russian Ural oil because a barrel is now being sold off on the trade markets. At the same time, however, China is reducing Brent and WTI deliveries. Demand falls, supply stays the same, and as a result, prices fall.
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