Fuel shortages spread across France

France is facing a severe fuel crisis, with 595 gas stations completely out of fuel and 16.3% of the national network experiencing partial outages. These shortages are directly affecting household purchasing power, as diesel prices have reached 2.36 euros per liter, a record since the summer.

Rising fuel prices strain budgets

Fuel prices are reaching unprecedented levels, with the average price of diesel rising to 2.364 euros per liter, an increase of 2 cents in a week. For a household traveling 1,000 kilometers per month, this means an additional monthly expense of 30 to 40 euros. The local inflation of fuel has exceeded 8% in one year, three times the general inflation rate.

Travel and tourism face decline

The economic impact is reflected in changes in consumption behavior, with a 12.5% decrease in holiday booking requests for the 2026 All Saints' Day compared to 2025. Households are limiting their travel, preferring nearby destinations or canceling plans. The regional tourism sector is already experiencing an 8% drop in visitors, with expected revenue losses of 15 to 20 million euros.

Regional disparities worsen inequality

Geographic disparities are exacerbating economic inequalities, with the Grand Est region experiencing the strongest shortages, 23.6% to 30.9% of stations affected. In the Bas-Rhin, diesel is at 2.482 euros per liter, the highest in France. In contrast, Corsica is unaffected, with no stations experiencing shortages.

TotalEnergies dominates shortages

Data reveal that TotalEnergies stations account for 87% of the shortages, with 1,367 out of 2,176 stations monitored by the company experiencing issues. This imbalance raises questions about the company's supply strategies. Although prices were capped in July 2026, shortages persist.

Upcoming protests may worsen supply

The economic climate could deteriorate with the planned social mobilization on November 5. Five unions and Yellow Vest collectives will mobilize, threatening to paralyze supply. Economists predict that a five-day blockage could reduce national consumption by 800 million euros.

Fuel prices expected to stay high

Bad news, the price of fuel is expected to remain very high for the coming months. The French are still being caught off guard by the price of fuel, which continues to exceed the threshold of 2.25 euros per liter for both gasoline and diesel. The government has not taken significant steps to reduce the bill at the pump.

Global factors keep prices high

The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that the fuel market will remain under tension until the end of 2026, with the situation possibly lasting into the beginning of 2027. This is due to supply difficulties currently affecting the oil market, including a production deficit accumulated since the beginning of the year.

Russia's role in the crisis

Russia is also facing difficulties, particularly with attacks targeting its refining facilities regularly. These attacks directly affect the production capacity of fuels, particularly those of diesel. An escalation of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia would particularly threaten the market.

Winter and reserves add pressure

The approach of winter will also increase demand for oil, but according to the IEA's outlook, fuel reserves are already at particularly low levels. The French government has decided to release 10 million barrels of oil from national strategic reserves, but it is not certain that this will be sufficient.