The average U.S. diesel price rose to $6.52 per gallon on Monday, the highest since the 2009 financial crisis, according to AAA data.
The spike follows a 10‑million‑barrel‑per‑day shortfall in global crude supply, as French officials estimate, and the destruction of refineries in Ukraine and the Middle East.
In Europe, diesel hit 2.41 euros per litre in France, while Asia saw a 15‑percent drop in crude imports, shifting demand toward gasoline and LPG.
Janiv Shah of Rystad Energy said the crisis is a refining‑capacity problem, not a crude shortage, adding that the U.S. and Gulf refineries are already operating near maximum throughput.
Industry sources say reopening the Strait of Hormuz is the fastest way to ease the squeeze, but geopolitical tensions and damaged pipelines may delay that until late 2026.