the essential
The price of a liter of diesel, now at 1.769 euros, has not been reached in France since last July. Francis Pousse, president of fuel distributors at Mobilians, gives some explanations.
1.769 euros: this is the average price of a liter of diesel displayed by the website carbu.com this Tuesday, January 21, 2025 in France. It shows an increase of 5.5 cents per liter (+ 3.20%) since last week and 11 cents per liter over the month. SP95-10 also increased compared to last week (+ 1.80%) with an average price estimated this Tuesday at 1.807 euros/liter.
Prices much higher than those observed in the second half of 2024.
More muscular vigilance with regard to Russian oil
According to Francis Pousse, national president of fuel and new energy distributors of the Mobilians union, this increase is part of a current geopolitical context. “The United States and the United Kingdom are now more vigilant about the supply of Russian oil despite the embargo decreed.”
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The depreciation of the euro
This wave of sanctions has irreparably increased the price of a barrel of Brent, which serves as a global benchmark for the oil market. This now exceeds 78.60 euros.
At the same time, the depreciation of the euro against the dollar, the currency of exchange for crude oil, “mechanically raises the price of fuel”, explains the specialist.
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Increased demand for diesel this season
If the price of diesel shows an increase slightly higher than that of gasoline, this is partly due to the seasonal context. “Low temperatures in Europe lead to a greater demand for diesel, necessary to produce fuel oil and therefore to turn on the heating,” indicates Francis Pousse.
In a logic that follows the law of supply and demand, the diesel therefore displays a higher price than the SP95-10. A trend which will certainly regain balance when warmer weather returns.
An evolving market with the arrival of Trump?
According to the specialist, it is a safe bet that the return of Donald Trump to the White House will change the economic situation of fuel. The market could indeed take an unexpected turn if the wishes of the 47th President of the United States to reopen the valves of oil and gas wells were to come true.
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