There are growing fears of fuel shortages across Britain after isolated reports of motorists panic-buying petrol as prices rise as a result of the war in Iran.
Ministers have assured the public that Britain’s fuel supplies remain stable but supply disruptions at a number of petrol stations have added to concerns that the country could experience shortages if the war continues.
The war has had a dramatic impact on global fuel markets due to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply usually passes.
Petrol prices have risen above 150.11p per litre for the first time in nearly two years, an increase of more than 17p since the start of the Iran war last month, while diesel as risen by 34.3p to an average of 176.66p per litre, according to the RAC.
The boss of Shell said this week that Europe would start to experience fuel shortages in the coming weeks, while the chief executive of Asda said drivers would face “temporary shortages” at the pumps.
Motorists have been warned against panic buying, but that did not stop queues forming at some petrol stations over the weekend as people rushed to fill their tanks before prices climbed further.
A sign displaying they have no diesel at Sainsburys petrol garage in Monkseaton, North Tyneside (Photo: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)Shortages at petrol stations
Britons rushed to buy fuel at the pumps in the first week after the US-Israel war on Iran started on 28 February, new data from Barclays showed, with sending jumping 10.9 per cent.
Barclays said spending on fuel quickly returned to usual levels after the initial spike. However, there are mounting signs of motorists looking to fill up whenever possible with no sign of an imminent end to the war.
Reports emerged of fuel shortages at at least 10 petrol stations across Britain over the weekend, although it was difficult to know the exact number of stations experiencing supply problems.
Some petrol stations showed signs of panic-buying over the weekend, with queues at a Costco Petrol Station in Derby and a Sainsbury’s station in Cobham, south-west London. Signs were pictured outside a Sainsbury’s petrol station in Monkseaton, North Tyneside on Sunday, which stated they were out of diesel; Sainsbury’s petrol stations in Bridgwater and Bamber Bridge in Preston reported no fuel, while a filling station at a Tesco Superstore in Worcester completely ran out of fuel earlier this week.
Asda, the nation’s second-largest fuel retailer, has acknowledged that demand for petrol has surged significantly in recent weeks
Allan Leighton, the CEO of Asda, raised concerns on Friday when he said some petrol pumps were witnessing “temporary shortages” due to elevated demand, with “the odd pump” running dry at select stations largely in rural areas.
Drivers fill their cars at a Costco Petrol station in Derby, United Kingdom on 27 March 2026 (Photo: Loannis Alexopoulos/Anadolu via Getty Images)“The spikiness at the moment makes this tricky for us, as spikes can lead to temporary shortages. These are temporary and are addressed very quickly,” he said.
On Sunday a spokesperson for Asda said: “All our forecourts are receiving their normal fuel deliveries, and sites are operating as usual. From time to time an individual pump may be briefly unavailable while it is being refilled, but customers will continue to have access to fuel across our estate.”
In a joint statement, the Petrol Retailers Association and Fuels Industry UK said: “Supply across the UK is flowing normally and there is no need for any change in usual buying habits.”
Fuel prices remain below the peak recorded in the summer of 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine when prices hit 192p for petrol and 199p for diesel
However, families planning getaways over the Easter will still have to contend with noticeably higher prices as a result of the disruption.
Could Britain run out of fuel?
Europe and the UK will be increasingly affected if the war continues. This week, Wael Sawan, chief executive of Shell, warned that European countries would start feeling shortages in the coming weeks.
The International Energy Agency has also suggested measures to reduce energy and fuel use in response to the war.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said this week that the economic challenges from the war might be be “significant” and warned petrol retailers against “profiteering” and “price gouging”.
Caption: Drivers queue at a petrol service station in Cobham, south-west of London on March 29, 2026 (Photo: Justin Tallis / AFP via Getty Images)The UK is unlikely to run out of petrol, although prices could get higher. Oil makes up 35 per cent of the UK’s total energy supply, according to the government, and it holds at least 90 days’ worth of net oil imports. Global oil prices determine how much Britain pays for it.
The UK’s diesel supply is more vulnerable to disruption, with the FT reporting that supermarkets and refineries are on course to run down stockpiles by mid-May. While Britain imports around 7 per cent of diesel directly from the Middle East, more than 40 per cent comes from refineries in Europe that are dependent for much of their crude oil on Middle East supplies.
However, the UK Government has emphasised that the UK has “a diverse and resilient supply” of fuel.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has highlighted the United Kingdom’s “diverse and resilient energy supply,” whilst committing to continued engagement with international partners regarding the broader geopolitical energy situation.
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