Cabinet considers measures for fuel prices

The price of gas oil has skyrocketed. Diesel is now more expensive at the pump than gasoline. Transporters and interest organizations are calling on politicians to lower fuel taxes. The cabinet is considering scenarios and possible measures that can be taken. UnitedConsumers calculates the average national advisory price for fuel every day. Diesel has increased by 5.8 cents today to €2.519 per liter. Gas oil is now more expensive than Euro95 (E10) which averages €2.453 at Dutch gas stations today. E10 has also become more expensive at the pump since yesterday, rising by 5.7 cents. The demand for diesel is high due to commercial use by trucks, (agricultural) machines, and inland shipping. A lot of diesel is refined in Europe, but there is also a significant amount of imports due to high demand. Not all oil is equally suitable for diesel production. With the phasing out of Russia as a supplier, Europe has become more dependent on imports from the US and the Middle East. Currently, the import of diesel, oil, and LNG from the Middle East has come to a standstill. This is due to the risks of sailing through the Strait of Hormuz and also due to drone attacks on various production facilities. According to Reuters, the state oil company of Abu Dhabi closed its refinery in Ruwais today, the largest in the Middle East and the fourth largest in the world, following a drone attack. The price of crude Brent oil per barrel dropped significantly yesterday (Monday, March 9) after statements by President Trump on the news channel CBS that the war in Iran is almost over. On March 8, a barrel of oil cost $106.35; a day later, the closing price was $88.79, a decrease of 17%. Today, the price of oil initially rose again, but at the time of writing (Tuesday afternoon, March 10), a barrel of Brent oil is priced at $87.64. Although the oil price has dropped, it is still 20% higher than on February 27, the day before the US and Israel attacked Iran. Also, the diesel price that LTO members pay per 100 liters (from 4,000 liters) has dropped, by more than 10% from €186.85 on March 9 to €167.55. That is still 21% more than before the start of 'Operation Epic Fury'. The gas price also took a dive today on the futures market TTF. On Monday, the price reached its highest level since February 2025 at €56.45 per MWh. On Tuesday afternoon, the gas price on the futures market was €47.05 per MWh, a decrease of 17%. Reduction of taxes Agractie is advocating for a reduction of taxes. “The government is currently benefiting significantly from the higher VAT revenues, while farmers and transporters are facing exorbitant costs. Oil is still cheap; it’s the taxes that artificially inflate the price,” said the organization. Agractie also points out the upcoming road charge for trucks, which also brings additional costs. According to the logistics entrepreneurs' association Evofenedex, fuel costs account for about 18% of the total costs of transporting goods. Finance Minister Eelco Heinen (VVD) previously stated that it is too early to take measures against rising fuel prices, but this afternoon, State Secretary of Finance Eelco Eerenberg (D66) indicated during the question hour in the House of Representatives that the cabinet is assessing which measures can be taken. The cabinet expects to have outlined the scenarios by the weekend. According to Eerenberg, the question is whether there is a spike in price or a structural price increase. The cabinet wants to act quickly if the price increase is structural, but “only if it is necessary”, according to the state secretary. There was also a call from the House to lower the taxes. Eerenberg said they have been calculating again today and that the tax currently makes up 22% of the diesel price. “That doesn’t change the fact that when people are filling up and see that it is 50 cents per liter more expensive than before the war in the Middle East, that has an effect on them. We then need to prepare for scenarios on how to deal with that.” He also indicated that there would be a broader look at the effects on purchasing power and which groups are affected, not just at the price at the pump.