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Taxes account for two thirds of the price of gasoline and diesel, crude oil only 15 percent.
The North Sea Brent crude oil price, which is relevant to the Austrian market, has fallen about 75 percent since the start of the year and was recently $ 16.33 (EUR 15.04). Those who currently have reasons to drive can expect it; however, this joy is clouded by the fact that prices for gasoline pumps have not fallen as much as the price of oil.
The liter of diesel recently cost an average of 1,026 euros, about 16 percent less than at the beginning of the year. For a liter of Super Plus, you currently have to pay an average of 1,202 euros, here the price decrease in the same period was around 13 percent.
This discrepancy in the development of oil and fuel prices is causing repeated outrage among motoring clubs, but it cannot be changed, says Christoph Capek, Managing Director of the Austrian Petroleum Industry Association (FVMI). Regardless of Corona, only a quarter of a change in the price of oil is included in fuel prices. “We are more or less in this area now, and that applies even if the price goes up,” Capek said in an interview with APA.
The main reason for this is the high tax rate, which is currently around 64 percent for gasoline and 57 percent for diesel. This ratio is not always the same because the mineral oil tax (MÖSt) is a fixed amount: currently 39.7 cents per liter of diesel and 48.2 cents per liter of premium gasoline. “And on top of everything, you add sales tax,” Capek said.
This means that the lower the cost of fuel, the higher the tax rate. “Even if the product no longer costs anything, it would still have to charge 58 cents for gasoline and 48 cents for diesel,” Capek calculated as an extreme example. The proportion of crude oil (without processing) in the price of the gas station of around one euro currently only represents 15 percent, sales 8 through service stations 8 percent. If, as now, significantly less fuel were sold, the staff and operating costs would be even more significant.
The result: “The lower the price, the less it can go down. The situation is very tense for service stations.” Mineral oil companies would also be burdened by the sharp decline in kerosene consumption.
(APA)
