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NederlandsDiesel in the EU: Spain among the cheapest, Netherlands and Germany among the priciest (week of 21/09)
The European Commission weekly oil price bulletin, with data from 21 September, confirms what the IRU had already flagged: diesel is at yearly highs across the EU due to the Middle East conflict and the closure of the Saudi East-West pipeline. For those leaving the Iberian Peninsula, the most useful figure is the gap between neighbouring countries — France, Germany and the Netherlands sit well above the EU average.
The European Commission’s weekly oil price bulletin, with data collected on 21 September 2026, confirms that automotive diesel remains at yearly highs across the European Union — and shows gaps of more than 60 cents per litre between countries on the most common route for hauliers leaving the Iberian Peninsula.
The figures, country by country
Prices with taxes included, automotive gas oil, week of 21 September:
| Country | €/litre |
|---|---|
| Spain | 1.92 |
| Portugal | 2.21 |
| Austria | 2.24 |
| EU weighted average | 2.23 |
| Italy | 2.28 |
| France | 2.38 |
| Germany | 2.46 |
| Netherlands | 2.58 |
Spain is the cheapest country in this group — even cheaper than Portugal, a gap of almost 30 cents per litre. At the other end, drivers heading to Germany or the Netherlands pay 25 to 37 cents more per litre than the EU average.
Why prices are up
The IRU points to four causes behind the broad increase: the Middle East conflict, with risk over the Strait of Hormuz; the closure of the Saudi East-West pipeline, which normally bypasses that strait; European refining capacity running close to its limit; and Russia’s ban on diesel exports, in force since 8 July. Atlantic distillate stocks are at their lowest since 1990.
What this means for planning
For hauliers leaving the Iberian Peninsula for Italy, Germany or the Netherlands, the price gap between countries justifies filling up before leaving — and, wherever the route allows, refuelling in Spain. On legs through France, Germany or the Netherlands, diesel cost should weigh more heavily in the freight calculation than it has in recent weeks.