In mid-March last year, many drivers could hardly believe their eyes. For the first time in the region, diesel prices surpassed 95 octane gasoline at local service stations in the province. The Ukraine conflict shattered a long-standing belief in the auto industry, with a veteran recommendation echoing through professional transport circles: those who have relied on cars for decades should consider diesel vehicles to save money, as diesel had become a standard in commercial transport.
Initially, the anomaly lasted only a few weeks. But by summer, the unlikely had become the norm. Diesel A remained nearly 20 cents more expensive per liter by October, and the winter months typically bring higher consumption due to Europe’s heating needs relying on this fuel. With sanctions tightening and a ban on Russian oil, further price increases were anticipated.
Yet forecasts proved unreliable once again, and by February 6th the market began to reverse. Prices drifted back toward traditional levels. Diesel A now averaged 1.508 euros per liter at province service stations, while gasoline 95 averaged 1.669 euros. Data from the Ministry of Industry showed diesel costs nearly 10% less than before, and gasoline costs remained higher than in the pre-war period, with diesel enjoying an average savings of 8.2% compared with gasoline prior to the conflict.
A gas station in Alicante.
Since the start of the year, a notable shift occurred: diesel became cheaper by about 16 cents per liter, while gasoline rose by roughly seven cents. So what drove this evolution if the war continued and sanctions against Russia tightened? The answer lies in strategic fuel stockpiling by many European nations, driven by concerns over famine and climate patterns. The Spanish Association of Petroleum Product Operators (AOP), which gathers the leading energy companies in the country, explains that unusually milder winter temperatures reduced consumption, helping to push international prices down while keeping reserve levels high.
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At the same time, the United States experienced a surge in driving activity with the approach of the summer travel season, as Americans embraced vacations and long road trips. This uptick contributed to higher gasoline prices, even as other factors helped stabilize diesel in Europe.
Considering that fuel prices have continued to rise in recent years, the drop in diesel offers some relief for Alicante. The region remains among the most fuel-consumed areas, and data from the Petroleum Products Strategic Reserves Authority shows that 95 gasoline sales tripled in the region. In Alicante specifically, last March tallied 47,564 tonnes of diesel A and 17,754 tonnes of gasoline 95. Many analysts believe these trends may not fully recur due to policy changes, although diesel demand has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels—February 2019 saw 51,013 tonnes of diesel consumed. The savings many drivers anticipate include greater car-sharing, improved engine efficiency, and more flexible remote working.