BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – Higher petrol and diesel prices have added an estimated €53 billion to European Union road transport costs in 2026. Transport & Environment calculated the increase across the 28 weeks through September 6. The Brussels-based group compared spending with the same period in 2025 and adjusted the figures for inflation. Diesel generated about €40 billion of the additional cost, making it the main source of the increase.
The analysis estimated that higher road fuel prices cost the EU about €270 million each day during the period. Diesel accounted for roughly €203 million of that daily total, while petrol contributed about €67 million. The report linked the rise to tighter refined-fuel supplies during the Middle East conflict and outages at Russian refineries. Those disruptions lifted the price of refined fuels relative to crude oil, with diesel showing some of the strongest pressure.
The European Commission has also tracked sharp swings in oil and refined-product markets during 2026. Its Oil Coordination Group said on September 8 that the EU had no immediate oil supply shortage. Higher refinery output inside the bloc and alternative international supplies continued to cover demand, the group said. Commercial inventories and emergency reserves also remained adequate. The Commission said diesel and jet fuel markets had faced particularly high price volatility.
Diesel costs hit motorists and freight users
The price increase reached both private drivers and commercial transport operators. Transport & Environment estimated that the average EU diesel car driver paid about €142 more during the study period. By September 14, filling a 50-litre diesel tank cost about €30 more than before the conflict baseline used in the analysis. German long-haul trucks faced an average extra fuel bill of around €236 a week.
Road freight remains heavily exposed to diesel prices across Europe. The analysis cited about 6.2 million trucks operating on European roads, while road transport accounted for 77% of EU diesel and gasoil consumption in 2024. Eurostat data show gas and diesel oil supplied 63.2% of road transport energy that year. Motor gasoline contributed 26.9%, while renewables and biofuels accounted for 6.2%. Electricity represented 0.7%.
Latest EU figures extend fuel-price picture
The European Commission updated its Weekly Oil Bulletin on September 24 with new consumer fuel prices reported by EU countries. The bulletin tracks weekly petroleum prices before and after taxes and includes a historical series dating back to 2005. That update followed the September 6 cutoff used in the €53 billion estimate. The Commission also continues to monitor oil supply conditions, refinery output, inventories and price movements across member states.
The €53 billion total remains an estimate from the environmental group, not an official EU calculation. It measures additional road fuel spending during the 28-week comparison period in 2026. Diesel represented most of the estimated increase, reflecting its large role in passenger transport and freight. The figures show how movements in refined-fuel markets translated into higher costs for drivers and transport operators across the bloc during the period covered by the analysis.