Fuel prices are becoming more expensive

Petrol pumps across the Canton of Zug are once again displaying higher prices. Many motorists are closely monitoring the situation, and are already adjusting their driving habits.

Petrol and diesel have become more expensive since last weekend – a development that is increasingly noticeable in the Canton of Zug. Spot checks at several petrol stations across the canton show that fuel prices have increased since the start of the Iran war. While prices vary depending on the supplier and location, the overall trend is clearly upward.

On Wednesday, motorists paid CHF 1.86 per litre for unleaded 95 petrol, and CHF 2.02 per litre for diesel in Rotkreuz, Cham and the city of Zug.

Prices were only slightly lower in Hünenberg, Oberägeri and Unterägeri: a litre of unleaded petrol there costs between CHF 1.84 and CHF 1.85, while diesel remains at roughly the same price as in the valley. Only Menzingen stands out with somewhat lower prices, with unleaded petrol at CHF 1.79 and diesel at CHF 1.96 per litre.

Higher prices putting pressure on households
A woman filling up her car with petrol at a petrol station in the city of Zug said that rising prices have become a regular topic in her daily life. “We now think more carefully about when we really need to drive,” she says. For shorter journeys in particular, her family now increasingly check whether the trip can be avoided altogether. As she lives in the city, many destinations can easily be reached by public transport.
 

Several petrol stations on the Baarerstrasse in Zug                             Photo: Matthias Jurt
 

A man filling up with diesel in Unterägeri glances at the price display. For him, the trend is hardly surprising. “It was already clear in the past that international events influence fuel prices,” he says. He has therefore started driving more economically. “I expect it will probably become even more expensive.”

The Canton of Zug could be disproportionately affected by rising fuel prices, as it has an exceptionally high number of cars per resident. According to a report by the Zuger Zeitung newspaper in March 2025, Zug has around 765 passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants – the highest level of car ownership in Switzerland, and significantly higher than the national average of around 535.

Impact of the Iran war
The rise in fuel prices is linked to the current geopolitical situation. International oil prices have surged following the latest escalation in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz – through which roughly one fifth of the world’s oil trade normally passes – is currently blocked by Iran.

This has pushed up the cost of crude oil for refineries and energy companies. According to industry analyses, these higher procurement costs are typically passed on to consumers with a delay (!) The effects are now also being felt at Swiss petrol stations.

Current estimates suggest that the average price for a litre of unleaded 95 could soon reach around CHF 1.90, while diesel may climb to around CHF 2.20 per litre. Motorists in Zug are therefore likely to feel the impact directly at the pump.

But are some of these price increases not due to profiteering. It could be noted that prices already increased after the first day of the current attacks. And it should be remembered that the oil companies celebrated record profits following the 12-day Iran war last year.

For some people, war can be very profitable.