BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – In 2026, elevated road fuel prices are expected to add roughly €53 billion to European Union transportation costs. On September 23, Transport & Environment released this estimate after analyzing data from 28 weeks ending on September 6. The Brussels-based organization compared fuel expenditures from this period with the same timeframe in the previous year, adjusting for inflation. Diesel contributed approximately €40 billion of the total extra costs. The calculation encompasses diesel and petrol expenses associated with road transportation.
T&E approximated that increased fuel prices raised EU road transport costs by an average of €270 million daily. Of this, about €203 million was due to diesel, while petrol accounted for around €67 million. The organization linked the surge to tighter refined-fuel supplies amid the Middle East conflict and outages at Russian refineries. These pressures widened the disparity between crude oil prices and refined products, especially diesel. Diesel and gasoil make up roughly 43% of petroleum products used within the EU by volume.
The European Commission has separately reported notable volatility in crude oil and refined product markets, particularly for diesel and jet fuel. Its Oil Coordination Group stated on September 8 that the EU currently faces no immediate oil supply issues. It noted that increased EU refinery output and alternative global supplies continue to satisfy demand. Furthermore, emergency and commercial oil stocks remain sufficient. The Commission highlighted that ongoing geopolitical uncertainty continues to drive significant price fluctuations across worldwide oil and petroleum markets.
Diesel Prices Impact Drivers and Logistics Companies
For drivers, T&E estimated that the typical EU diesel car owner spent about €142 more during the analyzed period. By September 14, the group calculated a €30 premium on a 50-litre diesel fill-up compared to pre-conflict levels. Long-haul trucks in Germany faced an average weekly increase of roughly €236 in fuel costs. Europe’s road network includes about 6.2 million trucks, based on the analysis. Higher diesel prices also affected freight operators and other commercial fuel consumers.
Diesel remains essential for EU road transport and freight activities. T&E reported that in 2024, road transportation consumed 77% of the bloc’s diesel and gasoil. According to Eurostat, gas and diesel oils supplied 63.2% of road transport energy that year. Motor gasoline made up 26.9%, while renewables and biofuels accounted for 6.2%. Electricity contributed just 0.7% to road transport energy consumption. Diesel and gasoline alone provided 90.1% of the energy used for road transportation in 2024.
New EU Data Highlights Ongoing Fuel Price Fluctuations
On September 24, the European Commission released its latest Weekly Oil Bulletin, which includes recent consumer petroleum prices from EU nations. This report monitors weekly price trends with and without taxes and maintains a historical series dating back to 2005. It was issued following the conclusion of T&E’s study period on September 6. The Commission gathers national price data and regularly compares figures across member states. Its September 8 supply analysis identified diesel and jet fuel among the products experiencing notable price volatility.
The €53 billion estimate from T&E remains an approximation by the environmental organization rather than an official EU figure. The analysis calculates additional road fuel expenditures over the 28-week period in 2026. It also examines impacts on passenger vehicles and commercial transportation, with diesel accounting for the majority of the projected increase. T&E advocates measures to lower diesel demand and promote vehicle electrification. Meanwhile, official EU data continue to monitor fuel prices, supply conditions, and petroleum consumption throughout the bloc.