Diesel prices have climbed to record levels in both Germany and the Netherlands, keeping fuel costs high for road transport operators across Europe. In Germany, the ADAC said the average diesel price on 6 April reached €2.443 per litre, while Dutch media reported that the national recommended diesel price in the Netherlands had risen to €2.799 per litre.
Petrol also became more expensive. In Germany, Super E10 averaged €2.192 per litre, bringing it close to its previous all-time high.
Netherlands well above German level
In a European comparison, however, Germany is not at the top of the table.
According to media reports, consumers in the Netherlands are currently paying around €2.80 per litre of diesel, about 36 cents more than in Germany. Petrol prices there are also significantly higher.
The difference is mainly due to higher taxes and levies.
Midday pricing rule has no effect
With the introduction of the so-called Austrian model on 1 April, Germany had hoped to curb price volatility.
According to the ADAC, however, the measure has so far had no positive effect. The motoring organisation has described the regulation as “counterproductive”, arguing that oil companies have used the restricted scope for changing prices to add extra surcharges.
The ADAC says this has regularly led to price jumps of several cents per litre around midday.
Geopolitics continues to drive prices up
A key factor remains the oil price, against the backdrop of tensions in the Middle East.
Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have tightened global supply. The price of a barrel of Brent crude recently stood at around $111, significantly above the level seen before the latest escalation began.
Competition distorted by national interventions
For transport companies, pump prices are only part of the picture, as larger fleets usually buy fuel at wholesale rates or use fuel price adjustment clauses. More important is the political framework: while some countries intervene in the market and provide targeted relief for companies, comparable support is lacking elsewhere.
One example is Poland, where government measures such as tax relief and price caps have noticeably reduced fuel costs. This creates a structural competitive disadvantage, particularly for operators in neighbouring countries.
Border regions particularly affected
The effects are particularly visible in border regions and in international transport. Companies from countries without relief measures are operating under higher cost pressure, while competitors from regulated markets are able to offer lower prices.
As a result, competition in European road freight is increasingly being shaped not only by market prices, but also by political intervention.
