Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt: “We monitor the price developments at petrol stations continuously and very attentively. Due to the geopolitical situation, prices have risen sharply across the country. If crude oil prices fall again and petrol station prices do not follow this trend or even continue to rise, we will have to take a closer look. This includes several market levels: from the crude oil market to refineries and wholesalers to petrol station operators.”

Based on the data collected by the Market Transparency Unit for Fuels, the Bundeskartellamt continuously monitors the development of prices at petrol stations in Germany. In addition to changes in crude oil prices, other market developments and upheavals at the refinery and wholesale level caused by the crisis in Ukraine in particular may influence the price level at petrol stations. Imports from Russia also play an important role for some products.

It is essential to comprehensively consider all levels of the supply chain to evaluate the situation. The Bundeskartellamt is therefore currently also paying particular attention to the possible reasons for the price development at the refinery and wholesale level and their possible influence on the price level at petrol stations.

At present, the Market Transparency Unit for Fuels receives all the price data from oil companies, but no data on the quantities supplied in each case.

Andreas Mundt: “A legal obligation for market players to also provide the Market Transparency Unit for Fuels with information on the quantities supplied would significantly improve the quality of our data.”