The Bundeskartellamt has released its quarterly report from the Market Transparency Office for Fuels, detailing significant developments in fuel pricing and taxation.

As of October 1, 2026, a new reduction in energy tax rates for diesel and gasoline has been implemented, lowering prices by 14.04 cents per liter. Initial price drops were observed, with average prices on the first day falling by approximately 7-8 cents per liter.

Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt, noted that previous tax reductions had positively impacted consumers, and the authority will closely monitor the new tax cut's effects. However, he emphasized that there is no legal obligation for companies to pass on the full tax relief to consumers.

The German government is also considering a price cap on fuel, although details on its implementation remain unclear. Mundt warned that such a cap could complicate market dynamics, depending on how the maximum price is set and its relation to production costs.

In the third quarter, average fuel prices saw notable increases, with E5 at €2.227 per liter, E10 at €2.170, and diesel at €2.234. The report also highlighted significant regional price disparities across Germany, influenced by varying procurement costs.

Additionally, the Market Transparency Office has automated the monitoring of compliance with the 12 o'clock rule, which has led to a decrease in violations. Most deviations from this rule occurred between 11:50 AM and 12:10 PM.