France is battling record diesel prices and fuel shortages as disruptions in the Middle East squeeze supplies. French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the European Commission to temporarily lower EU quality requirements for diesel and kerosene as record prices hit and fuel shortages grow in France, broadcaster BFM TV reported. The lower standards could allow some refineries to produce 5% to 20% more, but the trade-off could lead to higher fuel prices.
The US-Israeli war with Iran is disrupting flows through the Strait of Hormuz, squeezing energy markets that have been reshaped by the EU’s self-imposed sharp cuts in Russian imports after the 2022 escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. He said the move could deliver “significant production gains” of between 5% and 20% depending on the refinery. Macron noted that US road diesel can contain up to 15 parts per million (ppm) of sulphur, compared with the EU’s limit of 10 ppm.
Allowing higher sulfur levels would allow refineries to quickly ramp up fuel production as the EU grapples with shortages and rising prices, but at the cost of higher pollution. The French president also wants more B7 diesel, which contains up to 7% biodiesel, to be replaced by B10, which contains up to 10%. He argued that the measures would “strengthen our import and production capacities in the short term” and increase the amount of fuel available on the European market. Paris is seeking the changes as France grapples with rising prices and supply strains. Fuel distributors have reported growing difficulty securing deliveries for the coming weeks, Macron’s letter said.
Europe is particularly dependent on the Middle East for refined fuels, accounting for 36% of its kerosene imports and 18% of its diesel imports. Diesel prices in France hit a record €2.39 ($2.75) per liter last week, while 16% of filling stations were short of at least one type of fuel on Monday, according to government data. France consumes about 600,000 barrels of diesel a day and imports about half of it, Macron said. Gasoline prices have also hit record highs across the EU, with diesel averaging €2.16 per liter and gasoline €2.06 this month.
However, Brussels is pressing ahead with plans to cut off the remaining Russian supplies by the end of 2027 even as the EU scrambles for more fuel amid the Middle East crisis. Russia’s share of EU gas imports has fallen from 45% before the Ukraine conflict to 12% in 2025, while its share of crude has fallen from 27% to around 2%. With Russian energy supplies still being cut off, Paris is now asking Brussels to relax its own rules to get more fuel onto the market.
World oil prices rose above $100 as Israel’s US and Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure. fears of further supply disruptions. Brent crude recently crossed the threshold for the first time in nearly two months. You can share this story on social media: Follow RT on