Fuel shortages: Paris and eastern France worst hit

Nearly one-in-five fuel stations in eastern France are facing shortages at the end of this week, despite the gradual release of 10 million barrels of diesel (gazole) from state reserves. 

Service stations in the east – as well as in Paris – are primarily affected. In many other departments under 5% of stations are experiencing shortages. 

Prices per litre of both petrol and diesel dropped significantly following the release at the start of November.

The initial drop in petrol prices came even as the fuel release applied only to barrels of diesel. Although the price of petrol has plateaued this week.  

A driver filling a full tank with diesel will save around €10 compared to prices at the end of October. However, this remains well above prices from the start of 2026. 

Suppliers who benefited from the state release – able to purchase the barrels at cost price – are required by the government to pass on discounts to consumers until March 31, 2027. 

The 10 million barrels are being released gradually until January 2027. 

Currently, there are no plans for additional reserves to be released, and the office of Trade Minister Serge Papin said earlier this week that such plans are “not on the agenda.”

This came after the minister seemed to suggest the day before that the government was considering an additional release.

Shortage status differs across France

As of 10:00 this morning, 8% of fuel stations across France were out of at least one type of fuel, according to the official government tracker.

However, this was significantly higher in the Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, and Territoire de Belfort departments, as well as Paris, with all seeing at least 25% of stations facing shortgages.

Some reports suggest more than 45% of stations in Paris were facing shortages, and more than 40% in Haut-Rhin and Territoire de Belfort. 

In the Grand Est region, 18% of stations were out of at least one type of fuel, down from 21% on November 11.

This is significantly higher than the next highest region, the Centre-Val de Loire at 12%. 

Alongside Île-de-France (11%), these are the only three regions where more than one-in-ten stations are facing shortages.

Nationally, a rush to the pumps to benefit from cheaper prices has seen an increase in sales.

However, anecdotal evidence suggests only minor changes to driver behaviour. 

For example, drivers are still heading to the pumps less regularly – running tanks dry before refilling – but when doing so are filling their tank up full to benefit from cheaper costs, as opposed to only refilling the bare minimum needed for essentials. 

Official data on monthly fuel sales will not be available until December, but it is unlikely that the cheaper fuel has reversed new trends that have seen a drop in vehicle usage.

Why is east facing more shortages?

While the reason for heightened shortages in Paris comes from its size and high demand from its millions of residents and commuters, in the east there is a different cause. 

Fuel stations in the east receive supplies from fuel depots that must travel through Germany.

This is because transportation costs are typically cheaper as these depots are closer than other depots in France, with the result that up to 70% of fuel stations in the Alsace area are supplied from across the Rhine river.

However, it leaves the eastern stations vulnerable to disruption if conditions prevent smooth transportation of fuel. 

In August, the Rhine river began to dry up, limiting the amount of fuel that could be transported across the waterway from France to Germany, affecting fuel supplies in the area. 

Many ships saw their maximum authorised loads slashed, limiting how much fuel could be transported. 

A lack of rain in the area – also contributing to drought restrictions – means river levels are again dangerously low, and freight is limited. 

This was confirmed by CEO of the Système-U group (supermarkets and service stations) Dominique Schelcher earlier this week. 

The return of rain to the area next week should allow for normal freight to resume, but at the moment it remains lower than usual. 

Current fuel costs 

Official data on weekly fuel prices is typically released by the government at the start of the week, covering the previous seven days, and will not be available until Monday (November 16). 

However, unofficial website Carbu suggests that current prices are roughly similar to where they were last week.

Diesel continues to benefit the most from the fuel release, with average prices of €2.17 per litre, down 3.1c from last Friday. 

SP95 (E10) has dropped slightly down to €2.01 per litre (a drop of 1.4c), as has SP98 (E5) to €2.12, a drop of €0.5c. However, SP95 (E5) has increased to €2.10, up €1.6c. 

You can find prices near you using the official ‘prix carburant’ government website.