Manny Ita –
Rising global oil prices triggered by tensions in the Middle East are driving motorists in Germany to cross into neighbouring Poland in search of cheaper fuel, as pump prices climb sharply at home.
According to the German Motorists’ Association (ADAC), the price of a litre of Super E10 petrol in Germany reached 2.01 euros ($2.30) as of Wednesday, while diesel rose to 2.13 euros per litre. The figures represent increases of about 15 percent and 24 percent respectively compared with levels recorded in February.
The surge in fuel costs follows disruptions in global oil supply linked to retaliatory actions by Iran after joint strikes by the United States and Israel.
In response to the rising prices, Katherina Reiche said the government would introduce a measure limiting petrol stations to raising fuel prices only once per day in an effort to prevent excessive increases.
Despite the move, some German motorists are opting to refuel across the border in Poland where prices are lower due to reduced tax rates.
Joerg, a 50-year-old insurance worker who declined to provide his surname, said he recently crossed from the eastern German city of Frankfurt an der Oder into the Polish border town of Slubice to fill his tank before embarking on a long trip.
“I need to do a lot of driving next week and petrol is cheaper here,” he said.
Joerg said he planned to travel across Germany to visit his sister in Stuttgart and chose to refuel in Poland for the first time to reduce travel costs.
“I would have preferred to spend the money over there, rather than here,” he said while filling his grey Opel Tigra. “But you have to look after yourself.”
At the station he visited, diesel was selling for 7.73 zlotys per litre, equivalent to about 1.81 euros, significantly lower than prices in Germany. The difference is largely attributed to Poland’s lower value-added tax and fuel duty rates.
The price gap has also fueled criticism of the German government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who came to power last year promising to revive the economy and counter the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
“I think that it can’t go on like this forever,” Joerg said of rising fuel prices. “There’s already a great deal of discontent.”
For some motorists, cross-border fuel shopping has already become routine.
Melanie Adam, a 33-year-old industrial mechanic, said she travels from Berlin to Slubice once a month to purchase cheaper fuel and cigarettes, a practice she said has become even more worthwhile as prices increase.
“It’s just easier for all Germans to pop over here, fill up, than to do it over there,” she said, adding that authorities in Germany should consider lowering environmental taxes on fuel.
“It works in Poland. Why does it work here but not in Germany? That’s the question,” she said.
Responding to growing public frustration, a spokeswoman for the German Federal Ministry of Finance said the government was not benefiting directly from higher fuel prices, noting that only value-added tax revenues increase when prices rise.
However, criticism has continued to mount in Germany, where driving remains central to everyday life and politicians have begun urging the government to do more to shield motorists from rising costs.
Markus Soeder, leader of the Bavarian conservative party Christian Social Union (CSU), said the current measure limiting price increases was insufficient.
“In my view, it’s not enough simply to say that you’re only allowed to raise the price once a day, because then they’ll just raise it by a larger amount,” he told broadcasters RTL and ntv.
More should be done “to tackle potential price gouging,” he added.
Joerg echoed that view, saying authorities should provide greater support to motorists facing rising fuel costs during the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
“We should try to help ourselves as long as the war is on,” he said, adding that Germans living near the border have an advantage.
“I’m happy to live here,” he said. “Because I can get to Poland. Not everyone knows about that.”
