{
  "id": 5530237,
  "title": "‘Astronomical’ fuel price surge hits farmers in UK and US",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/astronomical-fuel-price-surge-hits-farmers-in-uk-and-us",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-04T09:00:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Business",
    "slug": "guardian-business",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/sep/04/fuel-price-surge-diesel-farmers-uk-us"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Farmers in the UK and US are facing a significant increase in fuel costs, reaching \"astronomical\" levels due to a combination of factors. The intensification of conflict in the Middle East, coupled with Russia's export ban on diesel, has driven up the price of crude oil, causing a sharp rise in diesel prices. This has led to a 10% increase in the cost of red diesel, which is used by agricultural vehicles and machinery, with the average price of diesel for UK motorists reaching 183.5p a litre, up from 164.5p in mid-July.\n\nAlex Harrison, a fuel buyer at Fram Farmers, explains that the price of all fuels has risen by \"an astronomical amount in just a few days,\" with diesel costs increasing by between 10p and 14p a litre since Monday. Farmers are struggling to manage their cash flow and are ordering fuel in smaller increments more frequently to hedge their bets, as the harvest peak demand for red diesel and other fuels has passed.\n\nThe volatility in oil wholesale markets has left farmers unsure about when and how much fuel to buy. The situation is further complicated by the squeeze on global refining capacity, with Russia, a major supplier of diesel, hit by Ukrainian drone attacks on its refineries and an export ban extension. Brent crude, the international benchmark, reached nearly $97 a barrel, its highest point in about six weeks. The rise in diesel prices is also affecting small businesses and larger companies that rely on vehicle fleets, with diesel prices in the US hitting their highest level in about four years, up 54% since the war began.",
  "summary": "Intensification of Middle East conflict and ongoing Russian export ban sees diesel prices rise 10% in less than a week Farmers are facing an “astronomical” jump in the price of fuel needed to operate their vehicles and machinery after a surge in diesel costs in the UK and US. Renewed fighting between the US and Iran has driven up the price of crude oil, while last week Russia extended a ban on…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}