By Alexander Miller, consultant in energy markets. Eurasia Business News, March 30, 2026. Article n°2073

The cost of diesel fuel in France has reached a record level since 1985 and is close to €2.2 per liter, writes the newspaper Le Figaro. Prices have risen for the fifth week in a row due to the escalation in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has hampered oil supplies from the Persian Gulf.

Over the past week alone, the price of diesel has increased by €0.08, and since the beginning of the aggravation of the situation – by €0.5.

At the same time, diesel remains the most popular type of fuel in France, accounting for about 68% of the total fuel market.

In addition to diesel, gasoline is also becoming more expensive. A liter of E10 gasoline, an analogue of AI-95 with ethanol content, rose in price by €0.03 over the week and reached €1.9. The price of conventional AI-95 without ethanol exceeded €2 per liter for the first time.

France has taken emergency action to reduce the risk of fuel shortages as global energy markets come under pressure from rising tensions in the Middle East. In a temporary measure published in the Journal Officiel on March 26, fuel distributors are allowed to sell diesel that does not meet the usual winter cold-weather standard. Until March 31, the allowed temperature limit of filterability has been raised from minus 15°C to 0°C. This change gives suppliers more flexibility at a time when oil flows from the Persian Gulf are being disrupted and diesel prices are climbing quickly.

The decision reflects the French government’s effort to prevent shortages at pumps while avoiding a wider crisis for households and businesses. It is a short-term fix, but it shows how fragile fuel supply can become when geopolitical shocks affect international shipping and refinery supply chains.

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© Copyright 2026 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 2073