France fuel crisis: one in nine service stations out of stock; Macron holds emergency meeting

Fuel shortages are continuing to worsen across France, with 11% of service stations now reporting they are out of stock of either petrol or diesel.  

The shortages come as the French president Emmanuel Macron held an emergency meeting with the main presidential candidates today to discuss the crisis and the government prepared to extend financial support for high-mileage drivers.

The latest figures, published by the government, were recorded at 9:00 on September 18, and show a steady deterioration in supplies. 

The proportion of stations experiencing shortages of at least one fuel type has risen from 9% on Wednesday evening to 10% on Thursday and 11% this morning. 

This means that about one in nine stations are now affected, with the situation being the most difficult in the Grand Est, where 16% of stations are reporting supply problems, up from 11% on Wednesday. 

Centre-Val de Loire has also seen an increase, from 11% to 14% over the same period. In Occitanie, 14% of stations are affected, while the figure is 13% in Pays de la Loire and 12% in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.

In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, 11% of stations are reporting difficulties and in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur 9%.

Île-de-France is one of the few regions where the situation has improved, with 7% of stations reporting difficulties, compared with 8% on the previous two days.

Overall, 89% of French petrol stations are currently operating without supply difficulties.

The government figures count a service station as experiencing a shortage if it has no petrol or no diesel available. 

This means that if a service station has run out of one type of petrol, such as SP95, but it still has supplies of other types it is not considered out of stock and is therefore not included in these figures. 

For this reason, the government figures could underestimate the true extent of the shortage. 

Fuel prices at or approaching record levels

The shortages come as fuel prices continue to reach record highs.

On Friday, September 18, the average price of diesel stood at €2,378 per litre, according to latest figures from the unofficial price comparison site Carbu. That is 7.5 cents more than a week ago and 14.7 cents higher than a month ago and just 2 cents off the record high for diesel prices of €2,398 in April. 

For petrol, the average price of SP95-E10 is €2.160 per litre, up 4.4 cents over the past week and 14.2 cents over the past month.

SP95 is averaging €2.240 per litre, up six cents in a week and 18.2 cents over the past month.

SP98 is currently averaging €2.250 per litre, an increase of 5.3 cents over the past week and 15.6 cents over the past month. 

Although the average diesel price has edged down slightly since Thursday, when it stood at €2.385 per litre, the broader trend remains upwards. Diesel has risen by more than 3% in a week and nearly 7% in a month.

These rises are directly linked to the continued conflict in Iran and tensions in the Middle East, which are putting pressure on fuel supplies and oil prices. 

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is adding to concerns, as it is an important route for global oil supplies. France imports most of its diesel, so any disruption to supplies can quickly push up prices. 

The continued rise in prices and concerns over fuel supplies have also led to protests, with fishers blocking ports and a fuel depot in southern France this week. They were calling for more government support to help them cope with the rising cost of diesel. 

An agreement was reached with the government on Thursday, with new fuel aid promised to the sector, and the blockades in Nice and Frontignan were lifted. 

You can see the evolution of prices from April up until Thursday, September 17, in the graph below.

Government extends support for drivers

Concerns about the growing fuel crisis led French president Emmanuel Macron to call an emergency meeting in Paris on Friday with the main presidential candidates. 

The meeting scheduled to take place at the Élysée Palace would discuss the "rapidly deteriorating" geopolitical situation and "unbearable" fuel prices and was expected to be attended by candidates including Édouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, Bruno Retailleau and Raphaël Glucksmann. 

Presidential front-runner Marine Le Pen and La France Insoumise leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon were both scheduled to be out campaigning and were expected to be represented by their respective party leaders, Jordan Bardella and Manuel Bompard.

At the same time, the government is preparing to help motorists affected by the rise in fuel prices.

A new support scheme will be introduced from October 1 for "the most vulnerable French workers," said Maud Bregeon, Minister Delegate for Energy and Government Spokesperson.

The existing support for high-mileage drivers is among the options being considered.

Commerce Minister Serge Papin also said that support for high-mileage drivers would not stop on September 30, according to TF1. 

The government has not yet announced the full details of the new scheme.

You can use the government’s ‘prix-carburant’ website to check prices and shortages at stations near you.