{
  "id": 1701335,
  "title": "Niedrigwasser: In NRW, Hessen und Rheinland-Pfalz ist Sprit am teuersten",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/niedrigwasser-in-nrw-hessen-und-rheinland-pfalz-ist-sprit-am-teuersten",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T11:37:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/niedrigwasser-in-nrw-hessen-und-rheinland-pfalz-ist-sprit-am-teuersten/100248040.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "In the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate, motorists currently face the highest fuel costs in the country. According to an analysis by the ADAC, the average prices for both E10 gasoline and diesel are significantly higher in these three regions compared to other parts of Germany. The gap to the cheapest state, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, is often more than 8 cents. Even Berlin and Bavaria are significantly below the German average. Overall, fuel prices are currently slightly increasing.\n\nADAC fuel market expert Christian Laberer attributes the higher prices in these three most expensive federal states primarily to logistical challenges caused by low water levels on the Rhine. This factor also raises the national average by a few cents, according to Laberer. Currently, a liter of E10 gasoline in these regions costs an average of 2.169 euros, which is 0.8 cents more than on Sunday. This price is only 3.4 cents below its all-time high recorded in March 2022. Diesel prices have also increased by 0.9 cents to 2.252 euros per liter. The trend towards higher prices continues with the first Tuesday morning values for both E10 and diesel remaining on the rise.\n\nLaberer notes that considering the main influencing factors, such as oil prices and the dollar exchange rate, petrol is currently significantly too expensive. In recent months, crude oil has sometimes been considerably more expensive than it is now. The ADAC compared prices at 11 a.m. each morning, which is often one of the cheapest times of the day since the 12 p.m. rule was introduced. Comparing with the national daily average is not meaningful, but comparing the 11 a.m. values of individual states is very useful. Where it is cheaper, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was the most favorable at 2.078 euros per liter for E10 and 2.172 euros per liter for diesel. Bavaria followed at 2.087 euros for E10 and 2.175 euros for diesel, while Berlin and Bavaria were the cheapest at 2.081 euros for E10 and 2.175 euros for diesel. The reason for the comparatively lower prices in Bavaria is its extensive pipeline supply from the south, which is relatively independent of the Rhine low water levels, according to Laberer. Higher tank station density in Berlin plays a role in its relatively higher prices. The three western states of Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate are the most expensive. In E10, Hesse faces the highest prices at 2.164 euros per liter, followed by North Rhine-Westphalia at 2.163 euros and Rhineland-Palatinate at 2.157 euros. For diesel, North Rhine-Westphalia is the most expensive at 2.254 euros, with Rhineland-Palatinate at 2.238 euros and Hesse at 2.236 euros.",
  "summary": "Das Niedrigwasser am Rhein treibt die Spritpreise nach oben - das wirkt sich auch auf den deutschen Durchschnittspreis aus. Billig ist es gerade in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Berlin und Bayern.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}