The EU weighted average retail price of diesel has risen to 2.159 euros per liter, a new high since the European Commission began comparable records in 2005, while gasoline is priced at 2.063 euros per liter. Filling a 50-liter tank costs about 108 euros, which is about 30 euros more than at the beginning of the year.

The Transport and Environment organization estimates, using the European Commission's weekly report, that the additional cost of diesel across Europe since the outbreak of conflict is about 203 million euros per day, not accounting for fuel tax reductions in various countries. The extra cost for passenger cars filling up is about 19 to 30 euros each time, while German trucks incur an average additional expense of about 236 euros per week, with approximately 6.2 million trucks across Europe rapidly increasing freight costs.

About 38% of passenger cars in the EU are still diesel vehicles, with France accounting for nearly one-fifth of Europe's diesel passenger cars. Road transport consumes about 77% of EU diesel and gas oil, with agriculture, logistics, and industrial machinery also under pressure. Approximately 30% of the diesel fleet is over 15 years old.

Price differences among member states have widened: diesel costs about 1.21 euros per liter in Malta, about 2.51 euros in Finland, and the average price at gas stations in Denmark and the Netherlands is about 2.62 euros, while Germany's price is about 2.50 euros, with no nationwide relief since the fuel discount expired on June 30. Poland, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic have seen price increases of nearly 50% since the crisis began.

Officials from the European Central Bank indicate that diesel refining profits are expected to peak in October, with the Northwest European crack spread significantly higher than gasoline. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, supply interruptions in the Middle East, and shutdowns of Russian refineries have caused refined oil prices to rise faster than Brent crude oil. Von der Leyen stated that since the outbreak of the Iran conflict, the EU has incurred an additional expenditure of about 90 billion euros on fossil fuel imports.

The buyers are those who must use fuel: freight, agriculture, and existing diesel vehicle owners, while the sellers are refineries and refined oil traders. The driving force is clear: tightening refined oil supply pushes up the crack spread, with funds flowing from end-user transport to refining and export. The beneficiaries are refineries and traders that can still export middle distillates, while the pressured parties are unhedged fleets, farmers, and member state finances without tax relief.

The weighted pump price index for eight countries shows that on September 22, diesel prices rose 38.78% compared to January 5, with an average price of about 2.219 euros per liter; gasoline rose about 30.6% in the same period. Energy inflation in the Eurozone has risen to 14.3%.

Source: Public information