Overview
- Customs launched intensified spot checks at crossings to Poland and Czechia targeting drivers bringing in untaxed fuel, with only the vehicle tank plus one 20‑liter canister allowed tax‑free.
- Price gaps of roughly €0.30 to €0.60 per liter have drawn long queues to Polish stations, worsening revenue pressures for German forecourt operators near the border.
- Pump prices spiked this week to about €2 per liter nationwide, with reported peaks of €2.109 for diesel and €2.014 for Super E10 during morning highs.
- Political pressure is rising as Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil seeks action on possible overcharging, the antitrust authority monitors prices, and Brandenburg’s premier denounces “rip‑off,” while the Left proposes a price cap funded by a tougher windfall tax.
- Industry and officials stress short‑term supply security, citing strategic petroleum and fuel reserves covering roughly 90 days.