Diesel prices in Europe have soared by more than 30% since the start of the Middle East conflict, straining consumers and highlighting the continent’s heavy reliance on imported fuel.
PARIS: The price of diesel fuel has rocketed by more than 30% across Europe since the start of the Middle East war. This surge highlights the continent’s deep dependence on imported energy and the lingering prominence of diesel in the transport market.
The Easter holiday weekend is expected to see a surge in demand with queues at petrol stations. Diesel has been worse hit than other fuels, and was already under pressure before the conflict.
Experts say its cost will rise further with a knock-on effect on inflation as long as trade through the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. The per-barrel price of diesel rose above $200 in Europe, the highest since March 2022 when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shook markets.
Diesel is ubiquitous in Europe, powering trucks, farm tractors, buses, and machinery. While electric cars are making inroads, diesel is still the most widely used fuel for transport.
According to industry body FuelsEurope, diesel accounted for 86% of transport fuel sales in Latvia in 2024, 73% in France and 66% in Germany. The international supply-and-demand balance for diesel was much tighter than for gasoline going into the war.
“The subsequent market response has been one of strong gasoil (diesel) price escalation while gasoline’s price response has been somewhat muted,” Susan Bell, a specialist at Rystad Energy, told AFP.
In Britain and France, diesel prices have risen over 30% since the first US-Israeli air strikes on Iran. In France, the price of regular petrol has gone up by just 17% in comparison.
The Netherlands has the most expensive diesel in Europe at more than $2.80 a litre. This is about 20% more than Italy, the cheapest country in a recent survey.
The European Union is now a net exporter of petrol but remains a net importer of diesel. Russia was Europe’s main source until international sanctions were imposed in 2022.
EU nations now look to India, Turkey, the United States and Saudi Arabia for supplies. Middle East states provided more than half of Europe’s diesel in 2025, with about one third of this passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Europe is now struggling to find alternatives to these disrupted supplies. Slovakia last month ordered a 30-day restriction on diesel sales, while Ireland and Spain have temporarily cut taxes on the fuel.
“Refineries are working at full capacity,” said an expert at French energy giant TotalEnergies. “Even with maximum adjustment to our settings, the room for manoeuvre remains minimal.”
Bell said the most efficient solution for Europe would be to source its diesel from Russia. The EU will not be lifting its sanctions anytime soon, however.
Postponing refinery maintenance, using strategic reserves, and reducing consumption appear to be the only other ways to partially address the imbalance.