The truce is over. After a lull last summer, fuel costs have climbed again, upsetting drivers who see the pump price rise bite into every trip. The cost of filling up keeps going up.
Since September 28, OPEC signaled production cuts, and diesel prices have edged higher. In Alicante, diesel rose by about 9.2 percent, with drivers paying an average of 1.971 euros per liter before the government’s 20-cent discount. Data tracked daily by the ecological ministry’s portal show that more than half of suppliers have already breached the two-euro-per-liter mental barrier. (AOP) They argue the price surge goes beyond OPEC decisions and crude costs, driven in part by the war in Ukraine and supply limits from Russia.
Gasoline 95 has followed a similar trajectory, climbing roughly 5.5 percent to about 1.756 euros per liter in the same period. When compared with a year earlier, the average diesel fill for 55 liters costs around 108.4 euros, up about 43.5 percent, while a 50-liter gasoline fill sits near 96.5 euros, up roughly 16.7 percent. Diesel costs have surpassed the levels seen in April, when discount measures were green-lit to ease consumer burdens. (AOP) The broader market has remained sensitive to policy steps and global price signals alike.
Experts from the Spanish Association of Petroleum Products Operators note that even with OPEC decisions and crude shifts, a key driver of high diesel prices is the evolving international dynamic. The war in Ukraine and Western sanctions on Russian crude have created persistent bottlenecks. In many regions, refining capacity and crude supply chain constraints complicate the ability to shift to alternative sources quickly. (AOP)
In Europe, supply bottlenecks have varied. Some markets show adequate refinery capacity, while others face more pronounced stress. As winter approaches, heating fuels like kerosene are rising again, and the EU’s move to ban Russian crude imports by ship could intensify price pressures. (AOP)
Regardless of regional bottlenecks, the burden affects carriers and operators who must manage cash flows. Truckers and logistics firms report that fuel pressures ripple through contracts with customers, even as some transport firms extend payment terms to shoulder higher spot costs. A transportation leader notes the monthly fuel cost per vehicle has climbed sharply, pressuring margins in a tight market.
Consumers worry about government fiscal measures under review, including potential reductions that could sunset. Industry voices argue that sustained relief should be paired with a broader strategy to reduce prices, akin to targeted support for electricity or gas. (AOP)
Towards the end of the car era, weather, rising fuel costs, and inflation together accelerate the decline in car dependence, though transport remains vital for many workers who lack suitable public alternatives. In their view, any price relief should come with safeguards for workers who rely on fuel to commute. (AOP)
Towards the end of the car age: weather, rising gas prices, and inflation are accelerating the decline (but don’t kill it)
The consumer protection representative emphasizes that for many people, car travel is essential for getting to work, and public transit does not always meet needs. If gasoline costs rise, households must cut discretionary spending, and temporary tax relief on fuels could provide relief while longer-term measures are debated. (AOP)