US President Donald Trump has threatened to quickly ban diesel exports to lower fuel bills for American drivers. That worries Europe, because American diesel made up 50% of the fuel imported by the EU’s 27 member states in August, according to the European Commission. Brussels warned that any disruption would hurt both sides, and said high-level talks with Washington are ongoing.
Diesel prices in the EU have already hit a record. A litre averaged 2.23 euros on Monday, 21 September, up from 2.16 euros a week earlier. The rise is mainly due to tight supplies of refined products, caused by the war in the Middle East and the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Agence France-Presse reports that 19 of the 27 member states now have their highest prices since 2005.
France is one of the worst affected, at 2.38 euros per litre. That is close to Belgium’s 2.39 euros and well above the EU average. Germany sits at 2.46 euros, while Denmark and Finland reach 2.56 euros. Spain, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia have kept prices under 2 euros. Malta is the cheapest, at 1.21 euros, thanks to public subsidies. Taxes explain part of the gap: in France they make up 42% of the final price.
Instead of cutting pump taxes for everyone, the French government has opted for targeted aid based on income or sector, which costs the state less. President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that nothing should be ruled out if oil prices keep rising. Still, taxes are not the whole story. France’s pre-tax price of 1.38 euros per litre is near the EU average, yet it has jumped 70% in a few months. Diesel powers about 47% of France’s 40 million cars, and half of all diesel consumed is imported, against just one litre in ten for petrol.
Reference
Pécout, A. (2026, September 25). Pourquoi le diesel français flambe plus que la moyenne européenne [Why French diesel prices are soaring above the European average]. Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2026/09/25/pourquoi-le-diesel-francais-flambe-plus-que-la-moyenne-europeenne_6782465_3234.html