ABNA24 - Gasoline prices in the European Union have risen 24% and diesel prices 33% since the outbreak of the war in the Middle East, as the conflict fuels concerns over global oil supply security, according to European Commission data.
The EU's average pump price for Euro-super 95 gasoline, including taxes, stood at €1.64 per litre on February 23, before the war began, and rose to €2.04 per litre by September 7, the data from the European Commission's weekly oil bulletin showed, Anadolu news agency reported.Diesel prices rose faster over the same period.
The EU average diesel price increased to €2.11 per litre from €1.59, a rise of roughly 33%.The increases come as fighting in the Middle East has intensified, raising fears of attacks on oil production facilities and energy infrastructure, as well as uncertainty over crude and refined-product shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.Brent crude futures rose back above $100 a barrel in September as the conflict escalated, a move that has fed through into pump prices across Europe.Tighter diesel supply conditions in Europe have been among the factors driving diesel prices higher than gasoline prices, analysts said.
Among EU member states, gasoline prices rose most sharply in Denmark and Finland. Denmark's pump price for gasoline rose about 36% to €2.63 per litre from €1.94, while Finland's rose about 36% to €2.32 from €1.71.Czechia and Poland followed with increases of about 32%, while Lithuania recorded a 29% rise.Diesel prices rose most in Bulgaria, up about 47% to €1.81 per litre from €1.23.
Bulgaria was followed by Czechia, up about 44%, Finland, up about 42%, Poland, up about 39%, and Belgium, up about 38%.Czechia, Finland and Poland were among the five countries with the steepest increases in both gasoline and diesel prices.Differences in price increases across member states reflect varying tax rates, currency fluctuations, refinery and fuel supply structures, and local market conditions.
The European Commission said on September 8 that the situation in the Middle East remained unstable and that geopolitical uncertainty continued to drive significant volatility in oil and refined product markets, particularly for diesel and jet fuel.
The Commission said there was no immediate threat to the EU's oil supply security at present, but warned that the course of the conflict could further tighten markets in the coming weeks and months.
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