BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – In 2026, elevated road fuel prices are expected to add approximately €53 billion to European Union transport costs. This estimate was issued by Transport & Environment on September 23, following an analysis of 28 weeks ending September 6. The Brussels-based organization compared fuel expenditures with those from the same period last year, adjusting for inflation. Diesel contributed roughly €40 billion of this additional expense. The calculation includes spending on diesel and petrol linked to road transport.
According to T&E, higher fuel prices resulted in an average daily increase of €270 million in EU road transport costs. Of this, about €203 million was due to diesel, and approximately €67 million stemmed from petrol. The rise is attributed to tighter refined-fuel supplies amid the Middle East conflict and outages at Russian refineries. These issues widened the gap between crude oil prices and refined products, especially diesel. Diesel and gasoil make up around 43% of the petroleum products used in the EU by volume.
The European Commission has also reported notable fluctuations in crude oil and refined-product markets, with diesel and jet fuel being particularly volatile. Its Oil Coordination Group stated on September 8 that the EU currently faces no imminent oil supply crisis, as increased refinery output and alternative global supplies meet demand. Additionally, stockpiles remain sufficient. However, geopolitical uncertainties continue to contribute to significant price swings across global oil and petroleum markets.
Diesel Expenses Impact Drivers and Freight Sector
For drivers, T&E estimated that the typical EU diesel car owner spent about €142 more during the study period. By September 14, the group calculated a €30 increase on a 50-litre diesel fill-up compared to pre-conflict levels. Long-haul trucks in Germany faced an average weekly additional fuel cost of approximately €236. With around 6.2 million trucks operating across Europe, higher diesel prices also affected freight companies and other commercial fuel consumers.
Diesel remains vital for EU road transport and freight activities. T&E reported that in 2024, road transport consumed 77% of the bloc’s diesel and gasoil. According to Eurostat, 63.2% of road transport energy came from gas and diesel oils, while motor gasoline supplied 26.9%, and renewables and biofuels contributed 6.2%. Electricity accounted for just 0.7%, with diesel and gasoline making up 90.1% of the total road transport energy in 2024.
EU Data Continues to Monitor Fuel Price Trends
The European Commission updated its Weekly Oil Bulletin on September 24, providing recent consumer petroleum prices across EU nations. This bulletin tracks weekly prices both with and without taxes, maintaining a historical series dating back to 2005. The update followed the conclusion of the T&E study period on September 6. The Commission gathers national price data and regularly compares figures among member states. Its September 8 supply assessment noted significant price volatility in diesel and jet fuel markets.
The €53 billion figure from T&E remains an approximation by the environmental group, not an official EU figure. It reflects additional road fuel expenditure during the 28-week period in 2026. The report also highlights impacts on passenger vehicles and commercial transport, with diesel representing most of the projected increase. T&E advocates for measures to lower diesel demand and promote vehicle electrification. Meanwhile, official EU data continues to track fuel prices, supply conditions, and petroleum use across the region.