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Petrol and diesel prices in Ireland are nearing April protest highs, with diesel over €2 per litre. Global instability and Middle East tensions drive volatility.
Petrol and diesel prices in Ireland are climbing back toward the highs that triggered national fuel protests in April, with diesel now exceeding €2 per litre and petrol approaching that level. According to monitoring site FuelWatch.ie, the average price of petrol is €1.99 per litre, while diesel stands at €2.16 per litre. These figures are edging closer to the record averages seen during the protests.
Current Fuel Prices Near Protest Levels
On the first day of the protests last April, petrol averaged €2.12 per litre and diesel €2.27 per litre, before a final round of excise duty cuts worth 10 cent on both fuels were applied. The current prices are just below those peaks, raising concerns that the relief from the cuts may be eroding. The temporary cuts, introduced to ease the burden on consumers, are now under review as global factors push prices upward.
Fuel prices have remained volatile throughout the year, exacerbated by global instability, particularly the war in Iran. In mid-February, the average diesel price was around €1.74 per litre and petrol around €1.75. Prices started to rise sharply by the beginning of March. By the third week of March, the average diesel price kept rising, peaking at €2.20 by the end of the month. April 7th saw the peak with average prices of €2.12 for petrol and €2.27 for diesel. Certain petrol stations may have prices 10-15 cents cheaper than the average figures, but FuelWatch.ie relies on user-reported prices, and there is no public database of official fuel prices on forecourts.
Global Tensions and Supply Disruptions
The United States is the largest producer of diesel but has seen growing internal political pressure as consumer prices rise in the wake of the war in Iran and the disruption of Gulf oil exported through the Strait of Hormuz, causing strain on farmers and other businesses. US president Donald Trump on Friday night said a threatened diesel export ban was never really on the table after other G7 nations agreed to release fuel from emergency stocks. An export ban, while likely to suppress prices in the US in the short term, would have left European countries facing more limited choice, and potentially much higher prices, for fuel.
Russia, under sanction due to the war in Ukraine, is also a major diesel producer, and some of its capacity has been damaged in the conflict. Other larger-scale refiners in China and India focus on their domestic needs and take supply of crude oil from the Gulf, which has been disrupted. These factors contribute to the tight global supply and upward pressure on prices in Ireland and across Europe.
Protests and Government Response
Protests in Ireland, which ran from April 7th to 14th, brought much of the country to a standstill. Sinn Féin tabled a motion of no confidence in the Government, with the Coalition responding with its own motion of confidence that won by 92 votes to 78. The Government responded to the protests with a €505 million support package. Temporary cuts reducing excise duty on petrol and diesel were also extended. These measures were aimed at alleviating the financial strain on households and businesses.
The rising prices have fed through to consumer behaviour, with the Central Statistics Office pointing to inflation as the cause of a 2.8 per cent decline in fuel sales in August. Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has suggested the Government is considering extending temporary excise duty cuts on petrol and diesel into early spring as part of Budget 2027. A once-off fuel allowance payment has also been mooted. Some industry sources have warned that prices over €2 for petrol and diesel could become the new normal, especially if the tensions in the Middle East persist.
As global uncertainties continue, Irish consumers and businesses remain vulnerable to further price increases. The Government faces pressure to balance fiscal measures with the need to support those struggling with high fuel costs. The situation remains fluid, with potential extensions of excise cuts and additional allowances under discussion.
Fuel Prices Ireland Petrol Diesel Excise Duty G7 Middle East Protests
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