Relief package: Why drivers shouldn't refuel on June 1st despite the fuel discount

Created: 05/31/2022, 12:58 p.m

By: Patricia Huber

The tank discount finally starts on June 1st.

But the benefit from the relief package could not be felt at the pump at the beginning of the month.

Munich – From the first of June, the prices at the gas stations should fall – at least if the government plans it.

Because this has brought a tank discount on the way with the relief package.

Actually, the price of petrol should therefore fall by around 35 cents and the price of diesel by 17 cents.

Relief package: effects of the tank discount could be delayed

In practice, however, this should look different at the beginning of the month.

Because the tax cut, which the gas stations already receive from the refineries, will only be available from June 1st.

The remaining stocks were therefore still purchased at the normal tax rate.

This means operators would make losses selling the remaining fuel at lower prices than they bought it.

As a result, there could be a delayed fall in the price.

The Ministry of Finance also pointed out again on Monday that refueling may only gradually become cheaper.

In addition, fuel prices have risen again in recent days.

Super E10 cost a nationwide daily average of 2.133 euros per liter on Monday.

A liter of diesel cost 2.029 euros.

If the tax reduction were passed on in full - and without further price fluctuations - the fuel price would be around 1.86 euros for diesel and around 1.78 for E10.

This means that prices are still well above the level before the Ukraine war.

For the reasons given, it is unclear whether the above values ​​will be achieved at all.

However, both the Federal Cartel Office and the ADAC have already announced that they will monitor developments closely.

Tank discount: Bottlenecks and customer rush could drive prices up

Since gas stations can only buy tax-privileged fuel from Wednesday, it is unattractive for them to fill up their stores again in advance.

Therefore, there are fears that there could be supply bottlenecks.

Even mineral oil companies do not rule this out.

If this situation is accompanied by increased demand, this can also drive the price up again.

It remains to be seen how big the rush to gas stations will really be.

"We expect higher demand at the beginning of June, but no "run" on the gas stations," says Aral, for example.

At Shell one sees an “expectably higher demand”.