Jörg Dittrich, president of the Federation of German Crafts, has called for tax relief for diesel fuel used for commercial purposes.Speaking to the news portal “T-Online” on Tuesday, Dittrich proposed establishing a “commercial diesel” tax exemption modeled after subsidies already provided for agricultural diesel. According to him, this measure would allow companies to receive partial tax relief on diesel, similar to how farmers benefit. Dittrich emphasized the precarious economic climate, stating that the initiative is necessary to protect the core of the economy. He added that “the resilience of our economy is not infinite, and our immune system against crises is used up”.
The background to these demands is the significant rise in energy and fuel prices following the conflict with Iran. Dittrich characterized the current energy price shock as “worse than the one from the Ukraine crisis” and warned that it “will affect every sector”. For the craft industry, this means facing “considerable cost increases” whether through higher logistics expenses or elevated raw material costs in supply chains. Given that many businesses rely heavily on vans, machinery, and daily client visits, the increased costs pose a significant threat.
Dittrich cited agricultural diesel as the ideal model. In the farming sector, energy taxes on diesel are partially reimbursed retroactively upon application. He believes a similar framework could alleviate burdens for businesses with high operational mileage. He noted that businesses are already reacting immediately to the rising costs, stating, “No one is waiting any longer; all businesses are responding right away, withdrawing quotes, or canceling orders”. Therefore, he urged the government to consider providing relief for “commercially used diesel”.
