According to data published by the European Commission and reported by Euronews, gasoline prices are currently 14 percent higher than at the end of February, while diesel has increased by almost 30 percent.
Based on the European Commission's weekly oil price bulletin published in early April, the average price of Eurosuper 95 gasoline in the European Union is €1.87 per liter. For diesel, the average has reached €2.07 per liter. The price rise followed Brent crude oil surpassing the $100 per barrel threshold, driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Before the conflict in Iran, the average price of gasoline was €1.64, and diesel was €1.59. This is why diesel is experiencing a proportionally higher price increase.
Which country has the most expensive and which has the cheapest diesel?
The differences among European countries are significant. The most expensive diesel is found in the Netherlands, where the price reaches about €2.46 per liter. Other countries with the highest prices include:
At the opposite end of the scale, "isolated" Malta unsurprisingly has the lowest diesel price in the European Union—around €1.21 per liter, interestingly lower than gasoline. After Malta, the following countries have more affordable "fuel" prices:
How do gasoline prices stand in the EU?
The rise in gasoline prices mirrors that of diesel. The Netherlands again leads with the highest prices—around €2.33 per liter. Among the most expensive countries after the Netherlands are also:
The cheapest fuel is found in Malta, where gasoline costs about €1.34 per liter. Malta is followed by:
What are the prices for autogas (LPG)?
The average price of LPG in the European Union was €0.84 per liter. Italy (€0.66) has the lowest price, while Croatia (€1.26) has the highest.
Taxes make up a large part of the price
A significant portion of fuel prices in Europe comes from taxation. On average, taxes account for 52.1 percent of the gasoline price and 44.6 percent of the diesel price in the European Union, although the tax burden varies from country to country.
For example, Slovenia has the highest tax share in the gasoline price (54.8 percent), while Estonia has one of the lowest for diesel (43.9 percent).