Saxony's skilled trades sound the alarm over high fuel prices

High fuel prices are a growing concern for the Saxon skilled trades sector. The cost of petrol and diesel is placing a considerable burden on businesses, employees and customers, said Uwe Nostitz, President of the Saxon Trades Association.

Politicians should act

"Now is the time for politicians to act. The federal government must not continue to watch fuel prices continue to rise or remain at this high level," emphasized Nostitz. The issue must be put on the agenda. The costs have reached dimensions "that are almost impossible to shoulder". This is "massively jeopardizing the economic upswing in the country".

According to the association, the state benefits considerably from the prices at petrol stations. "In 2025, the tax and duty share of fuel prices averaged around 64 percent for petrol and around 56 percent for diesel." The federal government therefore has all the leverage it needs to reduce prices.

Concerns about orders

The high fuel prices could also have an impact on demand from the perspective of the skilled trades. "Trade services always compete with other expenses," says Nostitz. There is therefore growing concern among businesses that orders will be postponed or canceled altogether.

Prices no longer rising so quickly

According to the ADAC, the rise in fuel prices has recently slowed somewhat. However, a liter of diesel recently continued to cost more than two euros on a nationwide daily average. In Saxony, some drivers are therefore driving to neighboring Poland or the Czech Republic to fill up, where prices are significantly lower.

The Saxon Trades Council says it represents more than 54,000 businesses in the Free State with around 280,000 employees. Last year, they generated a turnover of almost 36 billion euros.