UK diesel hits record 199.18p a litre as Trump weighs US export ban
UK diesel prices have reached an all-time high of 199.18p a litre, with hauliers facing steep cost increases and the government under pressure as Washington considers restricting US diesel exports.
Diesel prices at UK forecourts have climbed to a record 199.18p a litre, pushing the cost of filling an average family car to almost £110 and intensifying pressure on hauliers, businesses and households already contending with elevated fuel costs.
The milestone comes as US President Donald Trump considers imposing a ban on American diesel exports, a move that could reshape global fuel flows and determine whether UK pump prices continue to rise or finally ease. Trump said he had urged his advisers to examine the idea, telling reporters: «I've said let's not send out the diesel. We make a lot of diesel … I've called for it within my people. We're examining whether it's feasible in terms of the overall refining capacity and whether a full or partial ban would work.»
A temporary US export ban could offer some respite to American drivers ahead of the midterm elections, after diesel prices in the United States reached a record average of $6.52 (£4.93) a gallon. But for UK consumers, the picture is more uncertain. Diesel prices are creeping upwards across British forecourts, with prices in some locations considerably higher than the national average, and the direction of travel will depend heavily on whether Washington restricts supplies to the international market.
The strain on road freight is already severe. A heavy goods vehicle travelling 80,000 miles annually at eight miles per gallon consumes approximately 45,460 litres of diesel. At £2 per litre, that produces an annual fuel bill of roughly £90,900. At £3 per litre, the same vehicle would cost about £136,400 to run — an increase of around £45,500 per HGV. Scaled across a fleet of 100 HGVs, the additional bill approaches £4.55 million. Those costs do not remain with the haulier: they feed through supply chains into the price of goods on shelves.
The record price also reflects the wider energy shock linked to the US-Iran conflict. The cost of filling an average family car is now almost £110, around £31 more than it was at the start of that conflict, according to motoring organisations. Unleaded petrol has risen sharply in recent weeks as well, though diesel has moved further and faster.
For drivers willing to shop around, there is some relief. Scottish motorists could save more than 30p per litre by comparing forecourt prices, with diesel in some areas already at £2 a litre. Regional and postcode-level price differences have widened, meaning the national average masks significant local variation.
The record high places further pressure on the UK government, which has limited room to intervene directly in pump prices. A decision in Washington on export curbs would be felt quickly on British forecourts, given the scale of US refining capacity and the sensitivity of global diesel markets to any restriction on supply. For now, hauliers and motorists are left watching both the forecourt sign and the White House.
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