The Franco-Belgian waltz continues. Since soaring fuel prices, many motorists have crossed the border to earn a few euros on their fill-up. In one direction or the other: first the French in Belgium to deal with the shortage following disputes in the sector, then the Belgians in France to take advantage of the rebates granted by the government of Emmanuel Macron.
A measure which has however ended and which therefore has consequences in petrol pumps. No more endless queues of Belgian cars in France. It is this time on our side of the border that we see French license plates abound. And for good reason: our prices are now more attractive.
Bertrand, who lives in Saint-André and works in Tourcoing, partially fills the 80-litre tank of his Audi. Cost of the operation: 55 euros. With the key “20 to 30 cents less” per liter of diesel, compared to France, the 10 kilometers that this business manager has to cover to go to Mouscron are worth the detour. “If there were 100 terminals, again, at the limit, I would ask myself the question, but that’s not far, from my job to here. On a large tank, that makes a difference of 24 euros. The price of a barrel has fallen everywhere, except in France. We may be entitled to 10 cents less when the liter is 2 euros! It’s unfortunate, but we have to stop giving money to the French state…”
At Total in Tourcoing, Belgian customers are now rare. Séverine, from Neuville-en-Ferrain, has long been accustomed to Mouscron, very close to her home, to fill up with gas. “At one point, it was cheaper in France, but that’s been reversed, and in general, it’s more advantageous to come here. Small trips in town, to go to work or drive the children, it quickly becomes expensive. When you look at the prices on both sides of the border, the calculation is quickly made, even if it increases from time to time. »
PRICE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FRANCE AND BELGIUM NOTED THIS FRIDAY BY LA VOIX DU NORD
LEAD FREE 95
Halluin: 1€85 per liter
Mouscron: 1€63 per liter
Price: 1€64 per litre
Menin: between €162 and €165 per liter
Tourcoing: €1.92 per liter
> Up to 30 cents difference per liter between France and Belgium. This represents a difference of 21€
LEAD FREE 98
Halluin: €1.93 per liter
Mouscron: €1.96 per liter
Price: 1€90 per litre
Menin: between €1.92 and €1.96 per liter
Tourcoing: €203 per liter
GAZOLE
Halluin: 1€88 per liter
Mouscron: 1€61 per liter
Price: 1€61 per litre
I went: 1€61 per liter
Tourcoing: €1.86 per liter
> Approximately 25 cents difference per liter between France and Belgium. That is a difference of 17€50
> The difference between the Belgian and French stations is less interesting, even negative depending on the stations chosen.
“Every euro counts”
In Menin, Jean, a retiree from Hallu, naturally crosses the border to get his diesel fuel, the cost of which he carefully monitors: “Every euro counts, now you have to manage, to save your wallet… If tomorrow it changes , I will adapt again. »
As for Sandra, a young Belgian, she is rather delighted to no longer have to go to Tourcoing or Roncq to fill up: “Fortunately, everything is back to normal and we no longer need to queue at service stations. Hope it lasts… “