UK diesel price hits £2 a litre as US calls for EU to release more stocks

The average price of diesel has risen above £2 a litre in the UK for the first time, according to the RAC motoring body, as the fallout from the Iran war continues to push up the cost of fuel.

Diesel has now hit an average of 200.01p a litre, the RAC said, and petrol prices are also still rising, reaching 174.71p a litre on average.

The motoring group said price rises were "showing no signs of slowing, heaping more misery onto motorists".

The US has put increasing pressure on European countries to release more diesel stocks, to help lower diesel prices worldwide, with President Trump threatening to ban US exports of the fuel.

Banning exports would mean more US diesel for the domestic market, which could ease prices for American motorists ahead of the midterm elections in November.

However, it would be likely to push up prices elsewhere, including in the UK and the EU.

US President Donald Trump said he was considering a ban, and backed his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent who has urged European countries to release diesel supplies "immediately", arguing that US farmers, truckers, and businesses "should not be left carrying the burden" as prices soar.

On Friday, the EU said it "fully rejects" the US threat to ban diesel exports if Europe fails to release more of its reserves onto the market.

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