Fuel prices in Germany have been rising sharply for several weeks, driven by a logistics incident on the Rhine and by higher margins on the distribution side.
A price increase confirmed by several sources
According to ADAC readings picked up by the press, Super E10 recently stood at around €2.162/L, up 3.7 cents from the previous week. Diesel rose more sharply, to around €2.253/L, up 5.3 cents over the same period.
Our own survey of the German station network, dated 12 September 2026, shows an average diesel price of €2.378/L, up 9.3 cents over 7 days (+4.07%) and 17.0 cents over 30 days (+7.70%). Super E5 (95) stands at €2.305/L, up 1.5 cents over 7 days and 12.1 cents over 30 days. These figures do not track exactly the same fuel grade as the ADAC data (E5 in our case, E10 for ADAC), but the upward trend is consistent across both sources.
Low Rhine water levels are the trigger
According to ADAC expert Christian Laberer, the drop in the Rhine's water level below 10 cm at the Kaub measuring point disrupted fuel transport by barge in western Germany. This logistics bottleneck mechanically pushed prices up in the riverside states before feeding through to the national average.
Margins under scrutiny
Beyond the logistics factor, German media (Die Welt) report that oil companies are taking advantage of the situation to sell fuel above normal prices, generating additional profits. The ADAC itself notes that the prices recorded are disproportionate to market fundamentals, raising questions about pricing transparency at the pump.
Super Plus (98) follows the same pattern
The third fuel grade tracked on the German market, Super Plus (98), stands at €2.247/L in our survey, up 1.4 cents over 7 days (+0.63%) and 12.1 cents over 30 days (+5.69%). As with Super E5, the monthly increase is markedly larger than the weekly one, pointing to an underlying trend rather than an isolated spike.
The tax share remains stable
At the current average price, the excise duty (Verbrauchsteuer) stands at €0.470/L for diesel and €0.655/L for both petrol grades (Super E5 and Super Plus), on top of 19% VAT. In total, taxes account for around 36% of the diesel price, 44% for Super E5 and 45% for Super Plus. This share has stayed stable despite the price rise, meaning the entire recent increase comes from the pre-tax price (product cost, distribution and refining margins).
Very large gaps between stations
Across the network we track, price gaps between stations remain considerable: some stations show diesel under €1.50/L (for example in Butjadingen-Tossens or Plauen), while others exceed €2.99/L on the same day. A gap of more than €1.50/L for the same fuel, on the same date, illustrates how relevant it still is to compare prices before filling up, especially during periods of supply strain.
A European context worth watching
This rise in German prices comes as Brent crude prices and supply tensions weigh on several European markets. To see how Germany compares with its neighbours, our European fuel price comparison page tracks the trend country by country.