BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – In 2026, the European Union is projected to see transport costs rise by an estimated €53 billion due to increased road fuel prices. The figure was published on September 23 by Transport & Environment, following an analysis covering 28 weeks up to September 6. The Brussels-based organization compared fuel expenditures during this period with the same span in the previous year and adjusted for inflation. Diesel contributed roughly €40 billion to this additional expense. The calculation includes spending on diesel and petrol related to road transportation.
According to T&E, the escalation in fuel prices added an average of €270 million daily to the EU’s road transport costs. Diesel accounted for approximately €203 million of that daily increase, while petrol contributed about €67 million. The organization linked this surge to tighter supplies of refined fuels, triggered by conflicts in the Middle East and outages at Russian refineries. Such pressures widened the disparity between crude oil prices and refined products, especially diesel. Additionally, diesel and gasoil make up about 43% of petroleum products used in the EU by volume.
The European Commission has also reported notable volatility in crude oil and refined-fuel markets, particularly for diesel and jet fuel. Its Oil Coordination Group noted on September 8 that the EU currently faces no immediate threat to oil supply. The report pointed out that increased refinery output within the EU and alternative global sources continue to satisfy demand. Moreover, emergency and commercial stockpiles of oil remain adequate. Nevertheless, the Commission highlighted that geopolitical uncertainties continue to cause significant price fluctuations across global oil and petroleum-product markets.
Diesel Price Hikes Impact Drivers and Logistics Firms
For drivers across the EU, T&E estimated that the average diesel car owner spent about €142 more during the study period. As of September 14, the group calculated an additional €30 on a 50-litre diesel fill-up compared to pre-conflict levels. Long-haul trucks in Germany faced an average weekly increase of about €236 in fuel costs. The analysis notes that there are around 6.2 million trucks operating on European roads. Elevated diesel prices have also affected freight carriers and other commercial fuel consumers.
Diesel remains a key component of EU transport and logistics activity. T&E reported that in 2024, road transport accounted for 77% of the bloc’s diesel and gasoil consumption. Eurostat data further reveals that gas and diesel oil supplied 63.2% of the energy used in road transport that year. Motor gasoline represented 26.9%, with renewables and biofuels providing 6.2%. Electricity accounted for only 0.7%, while diesel and gasoline together made up 90.1% of energy used in road transportation in 2024.
EU Fuel Prices Continue to Draw Attention in Recent Data
On September 24, the European Commission released an update to its Weekly Oil Bulletin, providing the latest consumer petroleum prices across EU nations. The bulletin monitors weekly price trends, both including and excluding taxes, and has been maintaining a historical record since 2005. This update followed the end 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 also highlighted diesel and jet fuel as products experiencing considerable price volatility.
The €53 billion figure from T&E remains an estimate rather than an official EU figure. It reflects additional expenditure on road fuels during the 28-week comparison period in 2026. The report details how this increase impacts passenger vehicles and commercial transport, with diesel accounting for the majority of the estimated rise. T&E has called for measures aimed at reducing diesel demand and promoting vehicle electrification. Meanwhile, official EU data continues to monitor fuel prices, supply conditions, and petroleum consumption throughout the bloc.