Business · Energy & Commodities · 2 hrs ago
UK van drivers face £2.5bn rise in diesel costs this year
Owners of diesel vans and pickups in Britain are expected to spend nearly £8.5bn on fuel this year, about £2.5bn more than last year.
Diesel prices have risen amid a global fuel shortage linked to disruption at refineries in the Middle East and Russia.
About 95% of light commercial vehicles in Britain still run on diesel, and the growth of online shopping has helped increase the number of vans on the road.
Higher delivery and transport costs could feed through to the prices of food and other goods.
The Road Haulage Association is urging the government to cancel planned fuel duty increases and introduce a 15p-a-litre rebate for commercial operators.
The planned duty rises are 3p a litre from 1 January and a further 2p from 1 March.
UK van and pickup owners are expected to spend almost £8.5bn on diesel this year, £2.5bn more than last year, according to analysis for the Guardian.
The increase follows a sharp rise in diesel prices linked to global supply disruption.
The higher costs have prompted calls for the government to abandon planned fuel duty increases.
The planned rises would add 3p a litre from 1 January and a further 2p from 1 March.
About 95% of light commercial vehicles in the UK are still powered by diesel.
- Who
- British van and pickup owners face higher fuel costs. The Road Haulage Association is calling for government help.
- What
- Diesel costs for van and pickup owners are forecast to rise by £2.5bn this year compared with last year.
- When
- This year; the planned fuel duty increases are due from 1 January and 1 March next year.
- Where
- The United Kingdom.
- Why
- Diesel prices have risen amid a global fuel shortage linked to disruption at refineries in the Middle East and Russia.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A fuel duty hike is a food price hike.
The fuel duty rise will only make prices at the pump even more expensive.
It’s time we caught up.
The US-Israel war on Iran began disrupting supplies of crude and refined oil products from the Gulf.
The average diesel pump price rose above £2 a litre for the first time.
Donald Trump announced a deal for Russian oil, prompting anger from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
A planned fuel duty increase of 3p a litre is due to take effect.
A further planned fuel duty increase of 2p a litre is due to take effect.
- Combined diesel costs
- Almost £8.5bn expected this year for owners of diesel vans and pickups
- Increase from last year
- £2.5bn
- Last year's spending
- £5.95bn
- Average van fuel bill
- Forecast to reach £1,965 this year, compared with £1,294 in 2025
- Diesel-powered light commercial vehicles
- About 95%
- Planned fuel duty increases
- 3p a litre from 1 January and 2p from 1 March
Sources
Related news
Hays beats quarterly net fee forecasts on US and Asia growth
UK business inflation pressures reach highest level since June 2023
British satellite firm Filtronic benefits from SpaceX boom
Family seeks check on whether 87-year-old was underpaid state pension
Rising heating oil prices strain rural households and businesses
Airtel Money makes London debut at £5.3 billion valuation
No story details available on a pulled IPO
Industry estimates 360 UK pub closures and 5,000 job losses in 2026
Heathrow may reassess £33bn runway plan without prime minister’s backing
Court overturns former Deutsche Bank trader’s interest-rate rigging conviction
Nominations open for UK sustainability-focused 30 Under 30 programme
