The average price of a litre of diesel in the UK has reached £2, an all-time high, as uncertainty in the Middle East restricts oil supplies. The record comes as US President Donald Trump threatens to ban US exports of the fuel and suggests European countries could release diesel reserves.
According to the RAC, filling up an average family car now costs £110, almost £32 more than at the start of the Iran war. The previous record high was 199.09p, set in June 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
How would a US diesel ban impact UK drivers?
The UK imports nearly 55% of the diesel it uses, with around a third of that coming from the US. The RAC has warned that US threats of a diesel export ban could push prices even higher.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: "Once again, it's ordinary people who are left footing the bill for events far away, as the UK remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels and imported diesel."
However, the Government has insisted Britain has enough fuel to cope if the US announced any sort of ban. The UK this week joined crisis talks with Brussels to discuss the possible need to release fuel stocks.
What has the Government said?
Britain holds about 40 days' worth of diesel in reserve, one of the lowest levels in Europe, according to data from the International Energy Forum. Transport minister Keir Mather said the UK had a wide range of fuel sources and that the Government is working with European countries over supply.
Mr Mather told Sky News: "I want to reassure people this morning that the United Kingdom has got a diverse range of supply when it comes to diesel. We have resilience built into our system for that reason. We are working very closely with our US counterparts to stress the importance of that relationship, and the importance of sustaining flows of diesel around the world, but also working through international fora in the International Energy Agency and partners in Europe from whom we get a proportion of our diesel imports as well."
He added: "Although prices have gone up at the pump, the Government is aware of that and the freeze in fuel duty is still in place. People shouldn't be concerned about shortages because of the inherent resilience that is built into that system."
A UK Government spokesperson said: "We have a diverse and resilient supply (of fuels). We continue to engage with our international partners and the UK fuel industry."
