The official maximum price for diesel rises on Tuesday to €2.501 per litre, surpassing the previous record of €2.489 set in April. Compared with a year ago, diesel is 44.82% more expensive. The main cause is the war in the Middle East and the disruption of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The UPTR carriers’ federation warns that the increase will raise costs by up to 10% compared with 1 January 2026 and calls on the government to immediately reduce excise duties. In the United States, diesel prices also reached a record high on Friday.

(Staff: Belgium / Economy & Transport)

The price of diesel continues to rise and reaches a new record level. On Tuesday, the official maximum price for one litre of diesel will be €2.501, surpassing the previous record of €2.489 set at the beginning of April. Compared with the same period last year, diesel has become 44.82% more expensive, an increase that is being felt directly by drivers and in the costs of transport companies.

Why is the price of diesel rising?

The increase is mainly caused by the war in the Middle East, which has been ongoing since the end of February. The conflict has created strong tensions in global oil markets, particularly because of the disruption of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for crude-oil trade. The effects are now also being felt at the pump, at filling stations.

Carriers hit hard

The sector federation UPTR warns that this historic increase in diesel prices will have serious consequences for transport companies. “For many carriers, this historic price increase means a 10% increase in transport prices compared with 1 January 2026,” the organisation said. UPTR is calling on the government to immediately reduce excise duties, without changing the professional diesel scheme through which part of the excise duties can be recovered.

Record high in the United States too

The United States is not spared either. On Friday, the price of diesel there reached a record high, exceeding $6 per gallon for the first time, equivalent to €1.38 per litre. Diesel is essential to the transport, agriculture and construction sectors in the US, and the increase will be felt across the economy.

Question for readers

Are you affected by this price increase? Do you have a diesel car and know roughly how many kilometres you drive on average? We are looking for people who drive diesel cars and would like to tell us how much more they are spending compared with the period before the war. Tell us in the comments.