BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – In 2026, increased road fuel prices are expected to add roughly €53 billion to European Union transportation costs. This estimate was published by Transport & Environment on September 23 following an analysis of the 28 weeks ending September 6. The Brussels-based organization compared fuel expenditures during this period with the same span in the previous year and accounted for inflation. Diesel contributed approximately €40 billion of the additional costs, covering diesel and petrol expenses related to road transport.
According to T&E, the rise in fuel prices increased EU road transport expenses by an average of €270 million daily. Of this, diesel was responsible for about €203 million per day, with petrol making up roughly €67 million. The organization attributed this growth to tighter refined-fuel supplies amid the Middle East conflict and disruptions at Russian refineries. These pressures widened the disparity between crude oil prices and refined products, especially diesel. Diesel and gasoil together make up about 43% of petroleum products used in the EU by volume.
The European Commission has separately reported significant fluctuations in crude oil and refined-product markets, notably for diesel and jet fuel. Its Oil Coordination Group stated on September 8 that the EU currently faces no immediate oil supply shortages. The group noted that increased EU refinery output and alternative global supplies continue to fulfill demand, while commercial and emergency oil reserves remain adequate. The Commission highlighted that ongoing geopolitical instability continues to cause substantial price volatility across worldwide oil and petroleum markets.
Driver and freight costs impacted by rising diesel prices
For individual drivers, T&E estimated that the typical EU diesel car owner spent around €142 more during the analyzed period. By September 14, the group calculated an additional €30 cost on a 50-litre diesel fill-up compared to the pre-conflict baseline. Long-haul trucks in Germany faced an average weekly extra fuel expense of approximately €236. The analysis states that Europe has about 6.2 million trucks on its roads. The increase in diesel prices also affected road freight operators and other commercial fuel consumers.
Diesel remains a key fuel for EU transport and freight activities. T&E reported that in 2024, road transport accounted for 77% of the bloc’s diesel and gasoil consumption. Eurostat figures show that gas and diesel oil supplied 63.2% of road transport energy that year. Motor gasoline made up 26.9%, while renewables and biofuels contributed 6.2%. Electricity represented 0.7%, with diesel and gasoline alone supplying 90.1% of the energy used in road transport during 2024.
Fuel price monitoring continues with latest EU data
The European Commission issued an update to its Weekly Oil Bulletin on September 24, presenting recent consumer petroleum prices across EU nations. The bulletin tracks weekly prices both with and without taxes, maintaining a historical record dating back to 2005. This update followed the conclusion of the T&E study period on September 6. The Commission gathers national price data and releases comparative analyses between member states regularly. Its September 8 assessment also identified diesel and jet fuel as products experiencing notable price volatility.
The €53 billion figure from T&E remains an estimate by the environmental organization rather than an official EU calculation. The analysis focuses on additional road fuel expenditure over the 28-week period in 2026. It also examines impacts on passenger vehicles and commercial transport, noting that diesel accounts for the majority of the estimated increase. T&E has called for measures to reduce diesel demand and promote vehicle electrification. Meanwhile, official EU data continue to track fuel prices, supply status, and petroleum usage across the region.