Fuel prices drop in France: How long will this last?

Fuel prices in France are continuing to fall, with diesel having dropped below the symbolic threshold of €1.50 per litre in some places, and petrol having dropped to around €1.60 per litre on April 29.

It comes after diesel was already averaging €1.53 per litre across France last week, while Unleaded 95 was at €1.67 on average. Similarly, SP95-E10 fell to €1.62, and SP98 to €1.74, shows official data from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition (which tracks prices continuously).

These are some of the lowest prices seen in the past three years since the June 2022 peak when Super SP98 hit an average of €2.20 per litre, diesel a high of €2.13 per litre, and Super S95-E10 an average of €2.09.

Read more: Map allows drivers to check out fuel prices across stations in France

Why are prices falling?

One of the main reasons cited is the ‘trade war’ being fought by US President Donald Trump, after the introduction of his tariffs. This has led to: 

• A fall in the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil, from US $80 a barrel in mid-January to $65 at the start of April. The American equivalent, the West Texas Intermediate, has also seen a reduction.

• The fall of the US dollar against the Euro

Mistrust of the US has helped to strengthen the euro, with the European currency trading at US $1.14, up from a near $1 / €1 equivalent at the time of Mr Trump’s inauguration. 

This means that countries that use the euro have seen their purchasing power increase, and contribute to a “drop of one or two cents per litre,” said Olivier Gantois, executive chairman of oil industry union Ufip Énergies et Mobilités to Le Figaro.

This drop in oil prices is also part of a broader market trend, amid some countries, including Russia and Saudi Arabia, having decided to reopen production in early March, intensifying this as Mr Trump’s tariffs came into force.

Are the price drops expected to continue?

Prices are expected to remain low in the short-term.

Plus, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has predicted a slowdown in oil demand growth over the rest of 2025, revising its previous forecast downwards.

“We are seeing a slowdown in global growth, which means that demand will fall in the coming months,” said Anne-Sophie Alsif, an economist at BDO France, to TF1. “As demand falls and we still have high hydrocarbon production, we are likely to see further declines.”

However, low prices at the pumps in the long-term are not guaranteed. This is because Mr Trump’s policies are volatile and may change quickly, which could reverse the current position.

Similarly, fuel prices are generally liable to small changes at short notice.

On Monday April 28, some pump prices had already risen, with the average price of diesel and unleaded 95 having risen by almost three cents.

“I don't think we'll see prices drop to €1.50 a litre [overall],” said Mr Gantois. “If I had to make a prediction, it would be a gradual return to the stability that we have been seeing since December 2022…provided that the tensions over customs duties are resolved through agreements.”