UK Diesel Prices Hit Record High as Iran Conflict Raises Costs

What changed

UK diesel prices reached a record 199.33p per litre on 28 September 2026, edging past the previous high of 199.09p set in June 2022. Petrol reached 174.23p per litre, while filling an average diesel family car now costs about £110, up £31 since the conflict with Iran began in late February.

Why it matters

The shock is already reaching beyond the forecourt. Diesel powers haulage and agriculture, and the UK imports more diesel than its four refineries produce. Higher fuel bills therefore put pressure on the cost of transporting goods and providing services, with increased costs likely to reach consumers.

The numbers show how quickly the squeeze has intensified: diesel is 59p a litre, or nearly 40%, higher than at the conflict’s start. Brent crude is around $108 a barrel, compared with about $73 beforehand, while international supplies of crude and refined diesel remain constrained.

That leaves households, freight operators and farmers exposed to events far beyond the UK. The government has pointed to next month’s Budget as the moment to address fuel duty and related pressure, but whether it offers relief remains uncertain. Prices are unlikely to fall quickly unless oil stays lower for several weeks, rather than easing for a few days.