BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – An increase in road fuel prices is projected to have added approximately €53 billion to European Union transport costs in 2026. This estimate was published by Transport & Environment on September 23 after analyzing data from the 28 weeks ending on September 6. The Brussels-based organization compared fuel expenditures with the same period in the previous year and adjusted for inflation. Of this total, diesel contributed roughly €40 billion to the increased costs. The calculation encompasses diesel and petrol expenses associated with road transportation.
According to T&E, the rise in fuel prices resulted in an average daily increase of €270 million in EU road transport expenses. Diesel accounted for around €203 million of this daily rise, while petrol made up about €67 million. The group attributed this surge to tighter supplies of refined fuels amid the Middle East conflict and outages at Russian refineries. These factors widened the disparity between crude oil prices and refined products, especially diesel. Additionally, diesel and gasoil constitute about 43% of the petroleum products used in the EU by volume.
The European Commission has also reported notable volatility in crude oil and refined products, particularly diesel and jet fuel markets. Its Oil Coordination Group stated on September 8 that the EU currently does not face an immediate oil supply crisis. It noted that increased refinery output within the EU and alternative global supplies continue to satisfy demand, with sufficient commercial and emergency stocks remaining. Geopolitical uncertainties, however, persist as a key driver of significant price fluctuations in global oil and petroleum markets.
Fuel costs for diesel impact drivers and freight carriers
For individual motorists, T&E estimated that the average EU diesel car owner spent around €142 more during the study period. By September 14, the group calculated a €30 premium on a 50-litre diesel fill-up compared to pre-conflict levels. Long-distance trucking in Germany faced an average weekly additional fuel expense of about €236. With approximately 6.2 million trucks operating across Europe, as per the analysis, higher diesel prices have also affected freight companies and other commercial fuel users.
Diesel remains a cornerstone of the EU’s transport and freight activities. According to T&E, road transportation consumed 77% of the bloc’s diesel and gasoil in 2024. Eurostat data reveal that gas and diesel oil supplied 63.2% of the energy used in road transport that year. Motor gasoline contributed 26.9%, while renewables and biofuels made up 6.2%. Electricity represented only 0.7%, with diesel and gasoline accounting for 90.1% of the energy utilized in road transport in 2024.
EU fuel price monitoring continues with recent data updates
The European Commission provided its latest update to the Weekly Oil Bulletin on September 24, featuring current consumer petroleum prices from member states. This bulletin tracks weekly price fluctuations, with and without taxes, and maintains a historical record dating back to 2005. The update followed the conclusion of T&E’s study period on September 6. The Commission gathers national price data and regularly publishes comparative reports across EU countries. Its September 8 supply assessment highlighted diesel and jet fuel among the products experiencing notable price volatility.
The €53 billion figure presented by T&E remains an estimate from the environmental organization rather than an official EU figure. This estimate calculates the additional road fuel expenditure during the 28-week comparison period in 2026. The report also discusses the impact on passenger vehicles and commercial transport, noting that diesel accounts for most of the projected increase. T&E advocates for measures to reduce diesel demand and promote vehicle electrification. Meanwhile, official EU data continue to monitor fuel prices, supply conditions, and petroleum consumption across the bloc.