Diesel hits record 199.18p a litre as Healey opens talks with US over export ban threat
The Chancellor told the BBC that pump prices were ‘extreme’ and that Britain was discussing a possible American diesel export ban with Washington, as the RAC warned prices had entered uncharted territory.
The average price of diesel in Britain hit a record 199.18p a litre on Monday, according to figures compiled by the RAC, surpassing the previous high of 199.09p set in June 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Diesel has risen by 56.8p a litre since 28 February, the start of the US-Iran war, when it averaged 142.38p. The RAC said filling an average family diesel car now costs almost £110, about £31 more than it did at the start of the conflict.
Unleaded petrol has also climbed sharply, reaching an average of 174.13p a litre on Monday, up 41.3p since February. The RAC’s data covers supermarkets, motorway service stations and independent retailers.
The average price of a litre of diesel has now reached the highest level in UK history, in what will be a financial blow to households and businesses that use their vehicles regularly.Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, 28 September 2026
“The average price of a litre of diesel has now reached the highest level in UK history, in what will be a financial blow to households and businesses that use their vehicles regularly,” said Simon Williams, the RAC’s head of policy.
The Chancellor, John Healey, told the BBC that diesel prices were “extreme” and confirmed Britain was discussing a possible American ban on diesel exports with Washington. “We’re also making the provision that we may need to, and we have our own stocks in the UK,” he said, speaking on the sidelines of the Labour conference in Liverpool.
President Donald Trump has threatened to restrict diesel exports in an effort to bring down prices for American motorists, telling reporters at the weekend: “We’re thinking about it very seriously.” He is under pressure from Republican politicians to act before November’s midterm elections.
Britain imports around a third of its diesel from the United States, so an export ban could push pump prices higher still. Healey said Britain was working with the Americans to ease pressure on fuel markets and, ultimately, to secure a diplomatic settlement to end the fighting with Iran.
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