BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – In 2026, the cost of road fuels in the European Union increased by an estimated €53 billion, driven by rising petrol and diesel prices. Transport & Environment analyzed the expenditure over 28 weeks ending on September 6, comparing it with the same timeframe in 2025 and adjusting for inflation. The report indicates that approximately €40 billion of this additional expenditure was due to diesel, making it the primary contributor to the overall rise.
The study estimated that during this period, higher fuel prices translated to an average daily cost of about €270 million for the EU. Of this, roughly €203 million was attributable to diesel, while petrol accounted for approximately €67 million. The increase was attributed to disruptions in refined-fuel supplies caused by the Middle East conflict and outages at Russian refineries. These issues caused refined fuel prices to rise relative to crude oil, with diesel experiencing some of the most significant pressure.
European Commission has also observed notable fluctuations in oil and refined-product markets throughout 2026. On September 8, its Oil Coordination Group stated that the EU was not facing an immediate oil supply shortage. They reported that increased refinery output within the bloc and alternative international sources continued to meet demand, with domestic inventories and emergency reserves remaining sufficient. The group highlighted that markets for diesel and jet fuel had seen particularly high price volatility.
Impact of Diesel Price Hikes on Drivers and Freight Operations
Both private motorists and commercial freight providers felt the effects of the fuel price surge. Transport & Environment estimated that the typical EU diesel vehicle owner paid around €142 more during the period analyzed. By September 14, filling a 50-litre diesel tank cost approximately €30 more than before the conflict baseline used in the study. Long-distance trucking in Germany faced an average weekly additional fuel cost of about €236.
Across Europe, road freight remains highly vulnerable to diesel prices. The report referenced around 6.2 million trucks on European roads, with road transport accounting for 77% of the EU’s diesel and gasoil consumption in 2024. According to Eurostat, gas and diesel oil supplied 63.2% of the energy used for road transport that year, with motor gasoline contributing 26.9%, and renewables and biofuels making up 6.2%. Electricity’s share was just 0.7%.
Additional EU Data Reinforces Fuel-Price Trends
On September 24, the European Commission refreshed its Weekly Oil Bulletin, including new consumer fuel prices reported by EU member states. This publication tracks weekly petroleum prices before and after taxes and provides a historical series dating back to 2005. The latest update aligns with the September 6 cutoff used for the €53 billion estimate. The Commission continues to monitor oil supply conditions, refinery production, inventories, and price movements across member countries.
The €53 billion figure remains an approximation from the environmental organization, not an official EU figure. It reflects the additional road fuel expenses during the 28-week period in 2026. The majority of this increase was due to diesel, given its significant role in passenger and freight transportation. The data illustrate how fluctuations in refined-fuel markets translated into higher costs for drivers and logistics operators across the bloc during the period analyzed.