The German competition authority, Bundeskartellamt, has reported a notable increase in fuel prices during the first two weeks of September, with average prices reaching €2.30 per liter for E5, €2.25 for E10, and €2.31 for diesel.

From September 1 to 11, gasoline prices rose by 7.1 cents per liter, while diesel prices increased by 13.6 cents per liter. The rise in crude oil prices during the same period was 6.5 cents per liter, and refinery/wholesale prices also saw increases of 5.4 cents for gasoline and 11.4 cents for diesel.

Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt, emphasized the impact of international market conditions on fuel prices, which are also influenced by taxes and fees. He noted that the authority is intensively pursuing ongoing investigations into pricing practices at the refinery level, initiated in May, to determine if there is any antitrust violation.

Mundt highlighted the complexity of antitrust assessments in the fuel market, describing it as a 'moving target' where prices, costs, and market conditions are constantly changing. He stressed the importance of careful evaluation to distinguish between high prices and those that are abusively excessive, acknowledging that legal processes require time and cannot provide immediate answers to price fluctuations.

Currently, the Bundeskartellamt is analyzing responses from refinery operators to extensive information requests and is conducting a nationwide survey among hundreds of gas station operators, representing over 90% of the national network.