UK Petrol Prices Surge to 169.9p Amid Iran War Fuel Panic
Motorists across Britain have flocked to petrol stations in a scramble for fuel, leaving many forecourts empty as fears of a new oil crisis grow due to the escalating Iran-US war. The panic buying has resulted in huge queues and widespread frustration among drivers, with prices varying wildly across the country.
Regional Price Disparities and Queue Chaos
According to recent data, drivers in Maidstone, Kent, are currently paying 137.9p per litre of petrol, which is 6.4p above the national average of 131.5p. This equates to approximately £39.45 for half a tank of petrol. However, the most expensive petrol to date has been recorded at an Asda forecourt in Bothwell, near Glasgow, where a 3p rise means motorists are now being charged a whopping 169.9p per litre.
In contrast, drivers are shopping around for cheaper offers, contributing to the forecourt queues. For example, a 50-minute drive from Maidstone to Thanet sees charges drop to 126.5p, or £34.79 for half a tank. In Lisburn and Castlereagh, Northern Ireland, prices are as low as 121.4p, about £30 on a half-full 50-litre tank.
Social Media Reactions and Historical Comparisons
Describing the chaotic scenes, one driver wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "I passed 4 petrol stations all with huge queues." Another reported: "Lengthy queues in Bristol for fuel. Some out of petrol already." Not everyone was impressed by the panic buying, as one social media user commented: "When the tank runs out you’ll have to pay inflated price anyway."
Some have likened the developing situation to the 1973 oil crisis, which saw prices at British petrol stations nearly double after OPEC countries enforced an embargo. This time, Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a vital shipping route for oil transport from the Middle East—is causing oil prices to soar.
Impact of the Iran-US Conflict on Oil Supplies
The disruption is stark: just five tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on March 1, the day after the US-Israeli bombardment of Iran began, compared to a typical 60 per day. Yesterday, brent crude briefly climbed to $82 (£61) a barrel, its highest level since January last year.
These hikes directly affect British consumers, as the majority of petrol in forecourts here is imported. Only 13% of petrol sold in forecourts comes from North Sea oil.
Industry Predictions and Calls for Calm
Alasdair Locke, Chairman of Motor Fuel Group, the UK's largest owner of petrol station forecourts, told Radio 4's Today programme that petrol prices increasing at the pump will "inevitably" rise as a result of the new conflict. He explained: "It depends on how long the situation continues and what the eventual outcome will be. The two main components of the price of petrol are, of course, tax and the price of oil. With the price of oil going up, that is inevitably going to feed through in due course to higher prices at the pump."
US President Donald Trump has already signalled that Operation Epic Fury could last "much longer" than five weeks, while there are fears that the conflict could spiral into a 'forever war', meaning more disruption to the strait and wild fluctuations in oil prices are likely.
However, some industry voices are calling for calm. RAC head of policy Simon Williams said it was "not a certainty" that drivers will be paying significantly higher prices for fuel, noting: "The oil price would have to rise significantly and stay that way for some time to have a dramatic effect."
