Belgian diesel hits record €2.50 a litre
Shipping disruptions around Hormuz and Bab al‑Mandeb and damage to a Saudi pipeline pushed Brent above $100, lifting European pump prices.
Mateo Fernandez ·
Belgian diesel rose to €2.50 a litre, a record, raising pump‑price pressure across Europe.
Market data showed Brent crude moved above $100 a barrel this week following disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al‑Mandeb and after attacks that damaged Saudi Arabia's east–west pipeline, officials said.
Belgian diesel hits record
Fuel‑price data showed Belgium reached the highest retail diesel level on record at €2.50 a litre, officials said, with retailers and freight operators reporting higher wholesale costs after ships rerouted and voyages lengthened.
Traders said the tighter flows have increased freight premiums and refining margins for middle distillates, which in turn lifts delivered diesel costs to northern and western European markets. Officials noted that shorter sea‑haul availability tends to concentrate supply stress where distribution hubs are busiest.
Commercial transport groups and some retailers have signalled an immediate squeeze on operating margins; motorists face higher bills at the pump and hauliers say costs will be passed on unless wholesale prices ease.
Market participants will watch shipping‑lane notices and weekly supply updates through Sept. 29, 2026, for signs of easing that could relieve pressure on Brent and European diesel prices.