Czechia Leads the EU in Diesel Price Increases in August

In August, Czechia recorded the sharpest rise in diesel prices among all European Union countries, according to data from the EU's statistical office, Eurostat.

Bulgaria came in second, with diesel prices climbing by 13.5%, followed by Luxembourg in third place with a 12.3% increase. Italy saw the smallest rise, with diesel becoming just 5.2% more expensive compared to July.

For context, diesel prices across the EU rose by 4.3% month-on-month in July, while petrol prices increased by 4.7% over the same period.

How Prices Shifted Across EU Countries

Diesel prices rose in 26 out of 27 EU member states in August, with Malta being the sole exception where prices held steady. The picture for petrol was somewhat different: prices went up in 22 countries, fell in three, and remained unchanged in two — Malta and Sweden. Petrol prices dropped in Hungary, Denmark and Slovakia.

Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine Blamed for the Surge

The sharp increase in diesel prices isn't limited to Europe — it's also being felt in the United States. According to analysts cited by Reuters, the spike is largely driven by the fallout from the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, which have significantly disrupted oil exports from several key producers, including Russia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Meanwhile, there are few real tools left to curb further price growth.

European diesel futures closed at a record high last week — the highest level since tracking began — with prices more than doubling since the start of this year. Supply disruptions have also spread to the Red Sea region, through which Saudi Arabia ships most of its oil exports.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz