Germany pays 21.7 per cent more for slightly less imported oil
Germany imported 49.1 million tonnes of crude oil in January–August, slightly less than a year earlier, while the bill rose to 30.0 billion euros. Higher prices following conflict in the Middle East lifted import values. The United States, Norway and Kazakhstan supplied more than half the volume, continuing the shift away from Russian crude.
Economics & Markets··Evening
A larger bill for a smaller volume
Germany imported 49.1 million tonnes of crude oil in January–August, worth 30.0 billion euros. Volume was 0.6 per cent lower than a year earlier, while value increased 21.7 per cent. Destatis, Germany’s federal statistical office, attributed the higher bill to crude price increases following conflict in the Middle East.[1], [2]
In the corresponding period of 2025, imports had reached 49.4 million tonnes and cost 24.6 billion euros. Across the first eight months of this year, the average import value was 610 euros per tonne. The August figure was 607 euros per tonne, following large movements earlier in the year.[1], [2]
Spring price increases partly unwind
The average value per tonne increased from 460 euros in February to 616 euros in March, the month after the Iran war began. After the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, it rose to 757 euros in April. May brought this year’s highest value, at 768 euros per tonne.[2]
The average then declined to 657 euros in June and 578 euros in July. Even May’s peak remained below the historical high of 798 euros in June 2022. The 610 euro average for January–August also remained below the full-year 2022 average of 686 euros per tonne.[2]
Earlier periods of tension over Iran’s nuclear programme also brought higher average import values. In 2012 and 2013, Germany paid averages of 644 euros and 613 euros per tonne respectively, both above the average recorded in the first eight months of this year.[2]
Three suppliers provide more than half the oil
The United States supplied 10.8 million tonnes, Norway 8.0 million and Kazakhstan 6.8 million in January–August. Together they accounted for 52.2 per cent of German crude imports by volume. They had also been the leading suppliers in 2025, when the United States narrowly ranked ahead of Norway.[2]
Russia had been the largest supplier before sanctions took effect in 2022, providing 22.8 million tonnes that year. Deliveries dropped to 0.1 million tonnes in 2023 and 0.02 million in 2024. Those later shipments involved crude imported into the European Union before the invasion of Ukraine and subsequently delivered through other member states. No Russian crude imports into Germany have been identified since 2025.[2]
In the full year of 2025, the United States and Norway each supplied about 12.4 million tonnes, with Kazakhstan providing 10.3 million tonnes.[2]
