Diesel sales continue to decline, while petrol is slowly gaining ground. However, petrol stations in Luxembourg are far from disappearing. In fact, they are benefiting in their own way from the rise of electromobility, and their convenience shops are performing very strongly.
In what has long been known as a “fuel tourism” country, oil companies remain confident about the future, according to Eric Bleyer, President of the Groupement Énergies Mobilité Luxembourg (GEML), which represents major operators such as Aral, Q8, Shell, Esso, and Circle K, the latter having taken over the TotalEnergies network in early 2024.
Fuel consumption trends vary significantly depending on the type of fuel, reflecting a market that is steadily electrifying. According to Bleyer, clear patterns have emerged. Petrol sales have increased by around 40% over ten years, whereas diesel has nearly halved, with the total fuel market shrinking by roughly 30% during that period.
The sharp downturn in consumption began in 2019. Since then, the sector has lost almost one billion litres between 2019 and 2025, according to Bleyer. In 2025 alone, total fuel sales amounted to approximately 1.7 billion litres across all fuel types, he said.
Recent figures confirm that the downward trend is continuing, with the sector recording an overall decline of around 7% last year, according to Bleyer. He explained that diesel sales fell by a further 10%, but stressed that diesel remains the most widely sold fuel in what remains a car-dependent country. Petrol, by contrast, saw a modest increase of 2%, he said.
Bleyer explained further that the sustained drop in diesel sales since 2019 is largely attributable to the transport sector. He stated that international lorries are increasingly choosing to refuel outside Luxembourg, as it has become more financially attractive for them to fill up in neighbouring countries or elsewhere in Europe.
He linked this shift to a less favourable fiscal policy introduced during the previous coalition government between the Democratic Party (DP), the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), and The Greens (déi gréng), which had prioritised achieving climate targets by 2030.
With a note of bitterness, Bleyer argued that this policy has had no tangible impact on the climate, as lorries continue to operate but simply refuel elsewhere. He stressed that the financial consequences are real, with noticeable losses both for public finances and for oil companies.
That said, Bleyer also acknowledged that the transport sector accounts for around 60% of Luxembourg’s CO2 emissions and that reducing these emissions is a binding obligation imposed on the government at European level.
Despite these challenges, oil companies are not facing extinction in Luxembourg. Bleyer firmly dismissed the idea that petrol stations might disappear, expressing confidence that they will endure and adapt successfully.
The sector currently comprises 237 stations, around 60% of which are located near the borders, and employs approximately 3,600 people. Bleyer believes that while some closures are likely in the coming years, this will not signal the end of petrol stations as such. He stated that fuel tourism is not dying out but undergoing transformation.
One major shift concerns energy diversification. According to Bleyer, oil companies will never be able to fully offset lost petroleum revenues through electromobility alone.
However, he explained that, in recent years, operators have significantly broadened their activities, offering additional services and alternative energy sources such as biodiesel. Bleyer gave the example of the hydrogen station that already opened in Bettembourg, and explained that, in future, synthetic fuels or other biofuels could emerge, depending on market demand.
Electromobility is also reshaping the landscape. With 29.3% of newly registered vehicles being hybrid and 26.9% fully electric, Luxembourg’s electric vehicle fleet is expanding rapidly. Nevertheless, Bleyer said that around 70% of vehicles currently sold still rely entirely or partly on combustion engines, meaning that they will continue to require petrol stations.
At the beginning of 2026, there are nearly 300 high-power charging points, delivering between 300 and 400 kilowatts, installed at service stations, according to Bleyer. He explained that oil companies are investing heavily in fast-charging infrastructure to meet the needs of electric vehicle drivers who require rapid top-ups.
These charging stops also create opportunities for customers to purchase coffee or groceries during the mandatory waiting time.
As a result, electromobility has become an additional driver of footfall. Service stations have diversified their offer substantially in recent years and increasingly operate as profitable local retail outlets. Bleyer concluded that convenience shops now play a much more significant role in turnover and profit margins, with in-store sales performing particularly well.
