Diesel in Germany rises to historic high
The cost of diesel fuel in Germany has set a new historic record. On Wednesday, September 16, a liter of diesel cost an average of 2.453 euros nationwide, exceeding the previous maximum recorded in the spring.
This is evidenced by data from the German automobile club ADAC. The previous record had stood since April 7, 2026, when prices rose sharply amid a spike in the cost of oil.
Diesel has been rising particularly quickly in recent days. As recently as Tuesday, September 15, the average price was 2.422 euros per liter — 10.1 euro cents more than a week earlier.
At the same time, Super E10 gasoline also set a new high. Its average price on September 16 reached 2.314 euros per liter. In recent days, the price of this type of fuel had broken the record for four consecutive days.
One of the reasons for the rise in fuel prices remains expensive oil. Brent is currently trading near $110 per barrel. However, ADAC believes that the cost of oil and the euro-dollar exchange rate only partially explain current prices at German gas stations.
The automobile club points out that at the end of April Brent also cost about $110 per barrel, but a liter of Super E10 then cost about 2.10 euros. ADAC believes that such a difference requires greater transparency in pricing at the level of refineries and the wholesale market.
The sharp price increase has intensified the debate about aid to motorists. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the authorities intend to respond to high prices and present support measures, but the specific mechanism has not yet been determined.
Among the options under discussion are targeted payments to individual groups of citizens. Monika Schnitzer, Chair of the German Council of Economic Experts, spoke in favor of direct financial assistance to households depending on their income. At the same time, she warned against trying to compensate all consumers for the rise in fuel prices without considering their financial situation.
ADAC also reminds that after a change in German pricing rules, gas stations may raise fuel prices only once a day — at 12:00. Therefore, the most advantageous time for refueling now is the period immediately before noon. The difference between individual gas stations usually reaches about 7 euro cents per liter, and on highways it can be significantly higher.
