Overview
- Prices at the pump surged at noon on Thursday in the biggest move since the 12:00 rule began, with Super E10 up 13.1 cents and Diesel up 14.9 cents, according to ADAC.
- Brent crude rose back above $100 a barrel, touching about $106, as new Strait of Hormuz incidents stoked worries about oil flows to Europe.
- The government’s two‑month tax cut of roughly €0.17 per liter takes effect from 1 May to 30 June. Drivers are unlikely to see the full drop immediately because many stations will sell fuel bought under the higher tax first.
- Since 1 April, stations may raise prices only once at noon, a rule that has produced steep midday spikes, the lowest prices just before noon, and a higher daily average than before the change.
- Prices remain high and vary by state, and Brandenburg lawmakers highlighted a further risk if Kazakh crude via the Druzhba pipeline stops, which could curb output at the PCK Schwedt refinery.