Diesel fuel prices in Germany 2000-2021

Over the past two decades the price of diesel fuel in Germany has fluctuated dramatically. Between 2000 and 2012, prices increased from 0.81 euros per liter to a peak of 1.49 euros. Prices began to decrease in the following years, dropping to 1.08 euros per liter as of 2016, close to the low seen in 2009. However, by 2019 the price per liter of diesel had again increased, at 1.25 euros per liter. Diesel prices decreased in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and increased to 1.28 euros per liter in 2021. As of June 2020, the average cost of diesel in Germany was lower than in France, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

Global oil price increase

The rise in diesel prices in recent years can be explained by the increase in crude oil prices. The cost of crude oil is the main component of diesel fuel prices and varies depending on supply and demand. From 2016 onwards, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude oil spot prices grew annually and stood at 65.23 and 71.34 U.S. dollars per barrel respectively in 2018.

Diesel cars losing popularity

Diesel was once the main choice of fuel in Europe for car buyers, but this has been changing in recent years. Between 2014 and 2018, the share of new passenger cars with diesel engines fell noticeably across Europe. In Germany, shares dropped by approximately 16 percent during this period to 32 percent. This decline in popularity also had an impact on prices.