Fuel shortages across France remain uneven but persistent, with diesel particularly affected as prices reach record highs and supply chains remain under pressure.
Despite the announcement of a temporary ceasefire in the conflict in the Middle East, resulting in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, average diesel prices reached a record high of €2.375 per litre on Wednesday (April 8).
Assuming the ceasefire agreement holds, experts say it could take some time for supply chains to return to normal.
The map below shows diesel shortages as of April 7 at 12:30.
In total, 15.9% of service stations in France reported being out of diesel on Tuesday (April 7), compared with 17.2% a day earlier.
The worst hit region is Paris where 34.8% of service stations in the city have used up their supply of the fuel. Other badly affected regions include the Territoire de Belfort (31.6%), Puy-de-Dôme (25%), Hauts-de-Seine (23.9%), Ariège (22.9%), Haut-Rhin (22.8%) and Indre-et-Loire (22.8%).
The patchwork nature of shortages reflects distribution rather than a nationwide lack of fuel.
A large proportion of affected stations are operated by TotalEnergies, which recently revised and extended its fuel cap until the end of April.
This has concentrated shortages at specific sites rather than across entire regions.
Logistical constraints - including transport, storage and local demand spikes ahead of the Easter holidays - were also contributing factors.
The government insisted on Tuesday that shortages were largely a logistical issue based on a longer than usual break in the resupply efforts because of the Easter long weekend, as well as strain on the TotalEnergies network due to its fuel cap.
Resupply efforts this week should see shortages drop.
Diesel under strain
The fuel shortages have been overwhelmingly linked to diesel, which remains the dominant fuel in France.
Around three-quarters of transport fuel consumption relies on it, leaving the country exposed to international supply shocks.
Unlike petrol however, which is mostly refined on French soil from crude oil, the majority of diesel fuel is imported into France. This can exacerbate costs during a shortage.
Prices have surged in recent weeks, breaking all-time record costs.
The primary cause is the disruption of global supply routes following the conflict involving Iran, notably the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point for oil products.
Average diesel prices as of April 8 can be seen below.
No immediate rationing - but warnings issued
The government has so far ruled out immediate restrictions, pointing to strategic reserves of around 100 million barrels. A partial release has already been committed through international agreements.
In theory, it is permitted to fill up jerrycans and other authorised containers equalling to 333litres of petrol and 1,000litres of diesel at a service station at a time, but in reality this is all but impossible for most households due to the 50litre capacity limit on transporting the fuel.
Department prefects can pass temporary measures to limit this number - in 2022, the prefect in Pyrénées-Orientales imposed a 30-litre fuel limit per vehicle, with using jerrycans to purchase and stock up on additional fuel being completely prohibited.
