Price war: fuel prices have fallen significantly – salzburg.ORF.at
Business
There is currently a noticeable relaxation in fuel costs at Salzburg’s petrol stations. Prices have fallen by almost 40 cents per liter within a few weeks. Behind the lower amounts at the pump is a sharp fall in the price of oil and a price war among service station operators.
About two weeks ago, Austria was still among the front runners in Europe when it came to fuel prices. On Monday and Tuesday it was again cheaper to fill up in Salzburg than in Bavaria. “Prices around 1.70 euros quickly seem cheap after this expensive phase,” said one driver.
Mineral oil trader reports on price war in Salzburg
The high petrol prices have also changed the driving behavior of many a driver in recent weeks – fuel consumption has fallen, but the price pressure on petrol station operators has risen sharply, according to the industry: “In Vorarlberg, Tyrol and also in eastern Austria we still have significantly higher prices. In the Salzburg area, we have declines in the double-digit percentage range and a price war has broken out,” says the Salzburg mineral oil dealer Franz Leikermoser.
Fuel prices in Pinzgau and Lungau even higher
However, the current price rally with prices around 1.70 euros is not taking place at all Salzburg gas stations. In the Pinzgau or Lungau, the prices are sometimes significantly higher.
Industry: “High fuel prices are justified”
After the oil price on the world market fell back to the level before the Ukraine war in the last two months, the persistently high fuel prices are causing trouble for motorists. The gas station operators argue that the continued high prices are due to disrupted supply chains due to dried-up waterways on the Rhine, bottlenecks at the refineries and a market that has been bought empty.
Market was bought empty
According to the industry, just because oil has become cheaper does not mean that more oil is available: “Gasoline, diesel and heating oil are completely sold out and sales have fallen massively. They are now trying to somehow make up for the whole thing with cheap prices, but that doesn’t change the fact that the supply is upside down,” says Leikermoser.
Talks with Iran could bring relaxation
The uncertain supply situation could lead to price increases at the pump. A medium-term glimmer of hope is currently emanating from the talks on a new nuclear agreement with Iran in Vienna. If an agreement is reached here, the sanctions against Iran could end and the world’s fifth largest oil producer would be back on the world market.