EU Petrol Taxes Hit Record as War-Driven Prices Peak; Netherlands, Denmark Lead

EU petrol prices reached a record weighted average of €2.063 per litre on Sept. 14, the highest since European Commission data began in 2005, driven by the Iran conflict's disruption of Strait of Hormuz energy flows and elevated refining margins. Taxes account for 47.3% of the pump price on average, or €0.976 per litre across the bloc, with seven member states exceeding €1 per litre. The Netherlands imposes the highest tax burden at €1.270 per litre — 52% of a €2.434 pump price — followed by Denmark at €1.230 and Finland at €1.193. France (€1.052), Italy (€1.049), Germany (€1.179) and Greece (€1.133) also rank in the top ten. Brent crude traded above $100 per barrel for next-month delivery on Monday, up from roughly $72 before the war. ECB experts estimated September refining margins added €0.17 per litre to petrol and €0.41 to diesel in the euro area.