The price of fuel at the pump has fallen in France compared to the beginning of 2023, but, according to the consumer defense association CLCV, the gross margin at the pump is, on average, 60% higher than that before the war in Ukraine.

Departing vacationers may experience some relief. In the wake of the barrel of brent for crude oil, the price of fuel at the pump has fallen in France. During the first week of July, a liter of diesel averaged 1.67 euros, compared to 1.91 in January. That of unleaded 95-E10 fell below the 1.80 euro mark, instead of 1.86 at the start of the year.

On closer inspection, however, there is something to complain about, according to the consumer association Consumption housing and living environment (CLCV). Its statement, Tuesday, July 11, denounces gross distribution margins still “explosive” and “exceptionally high”. These correspond to the difference between, on the one hand, the pre-tax price of fuel sold to motorists and, on the other, the international prices of the products when they leave the refineries. This gross margin, which goes to distributors, is used to cover various costs (transport, storage, handling, etc.). Once these costs are deducted, they are left with the net margin, i.e. the profit.

For its calculations, the CLCV took weekly readings from the French Union of Petroleum Industries (UFIP). It shows that the monthly gross margin for the month of June remains more or less as high as in January: 25.4 euro cents for unleaded 95-E5 and 23.4 cents for diesel, against 23.8 and 25.6 cents previously. That is much more than between 2018 and 2021, when it was around 15 cents.

Despite these gross margins, professionals in the distribution of petroleum products refute the implicit accusation of having made more profits. “There is no analytical monitoring of net distribution margins, but we estimate that they remain around one cent per litre,” says Olivier Gantois, president of UFIP. There is no precise data to back it up. In the past, the General Inspectorate of Finance had mentioned net gains of at most 2 cents, but its summary note dates from 2012.