For several weeks, the price for Unleaded 95 has been inexorably approaching the two francs per litre mark. This symbolic threshold has now been surpassed: the average price in Switzerland stands at 2.02 francs per litre, an increase of five centimes within a week. Such a price level was last reached in September 2022, at the start of the war in Ukraine. Diesel follows the same trend, also rising by five centimes within a week to 2.27 francs per litre.
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain extremely high. Uncertainties about the region's future developments continue to cause high volatility in energy markets. Meanwhile, several refineries in the Persian Gulf and Russia have been damaged in recent months, reducing global refining capacities. Even if enough crude oil is available, these facilities can no longer produce as much fuel as before. Therefore, the prices for refined products like petrol and diesel remain high.
Low water levels on the Rhine exacerbate transport issues. Due to ongoing heat and drought, the Rhine carries exceptionally low water levels. Tankers can no longer fully load their cargo, leading to significantly higher transport costs.
In just over a month, the tariff for inland shipping between Rotterdam and Basel has increased from 33.50 francs to 240 francs per tonne. The water level of the Rhine at Kaub in Germany has fallen below 35 centimetres, suspending transport on this section. In comparison, a comfortable shipping level is around 200 centimetres, with restrictions already beginning at levels below 120 centimetres. Shipments between the Karlsruhe refinery and Basel on the canalised Rhine section still seem possible for now, despite the low water levels.
Despite this renewed price increase, current fuel prices remain below the record prices of 2022. At that time, Unleaded 95 reached a peak price of 2.31 francs per litre, with diesel rising to 2.40 francs per litre. The average price for Unleaded 95 remained above the two francs per litre mark for nearly six months—from March to September 2022. For diesel, this phase lasted around a year, from March 2022 to March 2023.
Given rising fuel prices, TCS recommends using their fuel price radar to compare prices from around 3,800 petrol stations in Switzerland. This allows you to quickly find the cheapest petrol station nearby. Whether a detour for refuelling is worthwhile can be assessed using the "Three Times Five Rule": a detour of 5 kilometres is worth it if you can save 5 centimes per litre and fill up about 50 litres.
TCS also recommends forward-thinking and consistent driving according to EcoDrive principles. By driving calmly and anticipating, you can reduce your fuel consumption by up to 20%.
Swiss petrol station prices are influenced by a variety of national and international factors:
- Crude oil price on international markets - US dollar/Swiss franc exchange rate, as crude oil is traded worldwide in US dollars - Refinery capacities and margins - Supply and demand for petrol and diesel on international markets - Geopolitical events - Transport and logistics costs, such as constraints on Rhine shipping - Government taxes and levies, including mineral oil tax, mineral oil tax surcharge, CO2 taxes (where applicable), and value-added tax - Competition and margins in wholesale and retail trade, which is why prices can vary significantly between petrol stations.
Press contact:
Vanessa Flack, media spokesperson TCS
Tel. 058 827 34 41 | vanessa.flack@tcs.ch