BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – An increase in road fuel costs is projected to add approximately €53 billion to European Union transportation expenses in 2026. The estimate was published by Transport & Environment on September 23 after reviewing data from the 28 weeks ending September 6. The Brussels-based organization compared fuel expenditures with the same period in the previous year, adjusting for inflation. Of this total, around €40 billion is attributed to diesel costs. The calculation encompasses expenses related to diesel and petrol used in road transport.
T&E estimated that rising fuel prices contributed an average of €270 million daily to the EU’s road transport costs. Diesel alone was responsible for about €203 million of this daily increase, while petrol accounted for roughly €67 million. The group linked the surge in prices to constrained refined-fuel supplies resulting from conflicts in the Middle East and outages at Russian refineries. These disruptions widened the gap between crude oil prices and refined products, especially diesel. Diesel and gasoil make up approximately 43% of petroleum products used within the EU by volume.
The European Commission has separately reported considerable volatility in crude oil and refined-product markets, particularly for diesel and jet fuel. Its Oil Coordination Group stated on September 8 that there is currently no immediate oil supply concern in the EU. They noted that increased refinery output and alternative global supplies are still able to meet demand, with sufficient commercial and emergency stocks. Nevertheless, geopolitical uncertainties continue to cause significant price fluctuations across international oil and petroleum markets.
Rising Diesel Prices Impact Drivers and Freight Companies
For individual drivers, T&E approximated that the typical EU diesel car owner paid about €142 more during the study period. As of September 14, the group calculated a €30 premium on a 50-litre diesel fill-up compared to the pre-conflict baseline. Long-haul trucks in Germany faced an average weekly additional fuel expense of around €236. Europe’s road freight sector, which includes about 6.2 million trucks according to the analysis, has also felt the impact of elevated diesel prices. These higher costs have affected both freight operators and other commercial fuel consumers.
Diesel remains a vital component of EU road transport and logistics activities. T&E reported that in 2024, 77% of the bloc’s diesel and gasoil consumption was for road transport. Eurostat data show that gas and diesel oil supplied 63.2% of the energy used for road transport that year. Motor gasoline made up 26.9%, while renewables and biofuels contributed 6.2%. Electricity accounted for just 0.7% of the energy used in road transport. In total, diesel and gasoline provided 90.1% of the energy needed for road transport in 2024.
EU Fuel Price Trends Continue to Draw Attention
The European Commission issued its Weekly Oil Bulletin on September 24, which presents recent consumer petroleum prices across EU nations. The bulletin tracks weekly price fluctuations both including and excluding taxes, maintaining a historical record dating back to 2005. This update followed the end of T&E’s study period on September 6. The Commission gathers national price data and regularly publishes comparative analyses among member states. Its September 8 supply assessment highlighted diesel and jet fuel as products experiencing notable price volatility.
The €53 billion figure from T&E remains an estimate provided by the environmental organization rather than an official EU figure. Their analysis calculates the additional spending on road fuels during the 28-week period in 2026. The report also examines the impact on passenger vehicles and commercial transport, with diesel accounting for most of the increase. T&E advocates for measures to reduce diesel consumption and promote vehicle electrification. Official EU data continue to monitor fuel prices, supply conditions, and petroleum usage across the union.