Average EU diesel price hits record €2.23 a litre

Diesel prices across the European Union have reached a record high of €2.23 per litre, according to an analysis of European Commission data. This price increase marks a jump from €2.16 per litre the previous week. The surge in diesel costs is attributed to disruptions in crude oil supplies and refinery damage caused by conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

The escalation in energy prices is not limited to diesel; it is affecting fuel prices worldwide. Nineteen EU countries, including major economies such as Germany, France, and Italy, have recorded record average diesel prices. Denmark and Finland have the highest prices at €2.56 per litre, followed by Germany at €2.46. Belgium and France are close behind at prices nearing €2.40, while Italy's prices are around €2.30.

These prices encompass taxes, with value-added tax (VAT) and excise duties accounting for roughly 40% of the pump price across the EU. Subsidies, such as relief for high-mileage drivers in France, are not included in these figures. Greece, Estonia, and Slovakia hit their previous record highs in 2022 due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Germany, France, Poland, and four other countries set their previous records in March or April 2026, following Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after US-Israeli strikes. Nine of the 19 countries broke recent records in August or September 2026. Spain and Sweden have also experienced price increases but are still below the 2022 peaks triggered by the Ukraine conflict.

Recent fiscal measures, including temporary cuts in excise duties on diesel, have been adopted by several European governments, similar to those implemented during the 2022 energy crisis, according to the Bruegel think tank.