Last year was slightly more favorable for consumers in terms of fuel prices, compared to the two previous years.
According to the ADAC, the average price of a liter of Super E10 for the year 2024 was 1.739 euros, while diesel averaged 1.649 euros per liter. Compared to the previous year, Super E10 was about five cents and diesel was nearly seven cents cheaper. With the record years of 2022 and 2023, 2024 will be the third most expensive fuel year.
The most expensive day for Super E10 was April 17, with an average price of 1.867 euros per liter. On the other hand, the cheapest day for Super E10 was October 1, at an average of 1.631 euros, which is over 23 cents less per liter. For diesel, the most expensive day of the past year was February 13, at an average of 1.767 euros per liter. The cheapest day for diesel was September 18, at 1.523 euros per liter, a difference of more than 24 cents per liter.
The cheapest month for both types of fuel was September, with Super E10 averaging 1.650 euros and diesel averaging 1.544 euros. The most expensive month was March for Super E10, at 1.851 euros per liter, and February for diesel, at 1.746 euros per liter.
The high prices in February and March of the past year are no longer the current fuel prices. After the peaks in the spring, the fuel prices fell almost continuously until September, and since then, a slight counter-movement has begun.
The high oil price with notations above the mark of 90 US dollars per barrel in the spring played a significant role, according to the ADAC. In September, the barrel was sold for around 20 US dollars less, which is reflected in the year’s low points for gasoline and diesel. The slightly firmer oil price, but also the noticeably weaker euro against the dollar, are responsible for the slightly rising fuel prices in recent weeks.
As of the end of 2024, the prices for both types of fuel have risen again. The current evaluation for December shows that a liter of Super E10 cost an average of 1.671 euros and thus 1.3 cents more than in the previous month. For a liter of diesel, motorists had to pay an average of 1.604 euros, which is 1.6 cents more than in November.
According to the ADAC, the development of fuel prices in the coming months depends on many variables and cannot be reliably predicted. The CO2 price, which was increased from 45 to 55 euros per ton of CO2 emitted at the beginning of the year, also has an impact on fuel prices. As a result, the CO2 surcharge for a liter of gasoline or diesel increases by around three cents per liter. However, the overall development of prices also depends on the oil price and other factors, not least the euro-dollar exchange rate.
Despite this, the ADAC still hopes that 2025 can become a slightly more favorable fuel year on average, as the early 2024 was still dominated by high prices. The current fuel prices are currently below the previous year’s levels, even with the higher CO2 surcharge.