The Trump administration has told Germany and France to release their diesel stockpiles to help ease soaring global energy prices or face a US export ban.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, the UK opened talks with European allies<\/a> over releasing emergency supplies, and Dan J\u00f8rgensen, the EU commissioner for energy, said on Friday that Europe was discussing the diesel reserves issue with all members of the International Energy Agency (IEA), not only the US.<\/p>\n The UK relies on the US for about 30% of its diesel, with the vast majority coming from mainland Europe, and has reserve supplies for 42 days.<\/p>\n Motorists and small businesses have been struggling with the increasing cost of filling up<\/a>.<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a>Free newsletter |Every weekday<\/p>\n Sign up to Business Today<\/p>\n Get set for the working day \u2013 we’ll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Williams added: \u201cThis will be very challenging for households and companies that drive a lot of miles, from commuters, haulage and delivery firms, businesses with large fleets all the way through to sole traders.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a cruel twist, it\u2019s diesel vehicles, which were once considered the most cost-effective option for lengthy journeys, that are now burning a hole in people\u2019s pockets.\u201d<\/p>\n The fresh high was recorded after record fuel prices across Europe in recent weeks, which have ignited calls for political leaders to take action to protect consumers against rising cost pressures.<\/p>\n Inflation in the cost of road fuels has outpaced the surge in global oil markets due to a sharp drop in output from refineries damaged by war in the Middle East and in Russia.<\/p>\n Before the Ukraine war, Russia provided between 10% and 15% of the world\u2019s diesel supplies. Another 10% of global diesel supplies transited through the strait of Hormuz<\/a> from Gulf nations before Iran responded to the US-Israeli attacks by disrupting the strait.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1790943169_885_500.jpg\")
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