Blockades spread across southern France as fuel shortages continue

Fishers continue to protest across the south of France for the third day today, with new blockades at the ports of Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) and Grau-du-Roi (Gard).

Sailors have joined boats to form a ‘human chain’ blocking the Nice port, preventing ships entering or leaving – so far, a Corsica Ferries ship set to dock this morning was prevented from entering the port. 

A new blockade at the fuel depot in Frontignan (Hérault) began this morning, following a first blockade yesterday.

Fishers are targeting ports and depots across the south to show their anger at rising fuel costs and call out the government for a lack of support. 

A meeting is scheduled between sector leaders and Fisheries Minister Catherine Chabaud today, but fishers say they will remain in place until further aid flows into the sector. 

They will remain in place “until we get something regarding the price of diesel. We can no longer work under these conditions; we aren't profitable anymore,” said one fisherman to media outlet BFMTV on Wednesday night. 

Fuel crisis hits France 

Petrol prices reached all-time highs in the government’s latest figures published on Monday (based on prices at the end of last week), and unofficial figures point to another increase at the end of this week. 

Diesel (gazole) remains a few cents off all-time records set in April 2026, but if indications from unofficial site Carbu are anything to go by, could also reach a new high by the end of the week, being just €0.01 off the record today. 

Record prices come alongside a fuel shortage at the pumps, spurred by a global shortage caused by ongoing tensions in the Middle East. 

The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil – the market benchmark – has remained at around $100 for well over a week, signalling a strain on available resources. In contrast, at the start of the year a barrel cost roughly $60. 

Around 9% of stations across France remain out of stock of at least one type of fuel, according to government figures released this morning.

However, this is heavily weighted towards TotalEnergies stations, where a price cap of €1.99 per litre of petrol and €2.25 per litre of diesel remains in place – both well below averages. 

The Ministry of Energy said earlier this week that the current service station shortages were "largely linked" to TotalEnergies fuel cap, noting that "90.8% of the stations experiencing shortages belong to the TotalEnergies network."

This however means fewer drivers are benefiting from the price cap, having to purchase more expensive fuel where they can find it.

Dominique Schelcher, CEO of the Coopérative U supermarket chain, called the TotalEnergies cap "unfair".

“It amounts to a form of unfair competition, given that TotalEnergies controls its entire supply chain. The group has the financial capacity to cap prices at the pump, something we absolutely cannot afford to do,” he said in an interview with media outlet La Dépêche.

“We are asking TotalEnergies to sell us fuel at a preferential rate so that we can pass those savings on to our customers at the pump. Our role regarding this product is limited to buying and reselling: if our supply costs go down, our retail prices will drop immediately.”

Changing driver habits, including a drop in vehicle use, is also contributing to high prices, as service stations need to raise prices to compensate for a drop in sales volume. 

“Until major international conflicts are resolved, tensions regarding production and distribution will persist,” said Mr Schelcher. 

“All indicators suggest that this crisis will be prolonged."

Anger to boil over? 

The disruption by fishers could be the first of several as anger mounts over rising fuel prices – and simultaneous shortages – across France. 

A return of the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) movement is being widely circulated on social media, with calls for a new round of protests beginning from October 17. 

While the populist demonstrations will likely cover several aspects of the cost of living crisis, fuel prices are top of the list. 

With no end in sight to the rise in fuel prices, industry leaders have called for the government to step in, either through the implementation of a price cap, fuel cuts, or a push towards electric vehicle usage. 

The government again confirmed this morning that wider aid packages – including the widely-called-for cut in VAT on fuel – are not going to be implemented. 

“If we target aid at those who really need it, the costs run into the hundreds of millions rather than tens of billions,” said Assemblée nationale president Yaël Braun-Pivet to media outlet TF1 this morning. 

The state has however extended its €100 fuel aid scheme for those who use their vehicle for work or commuting to work, until the end of September.