In France, one in six gas stations faces fuel shortages

Fuel shortages are spreading rapidly in France: on the morning of September 21, about 15.6% of the country's gas stations had no gasoline or diesel fuel. As recently as September 18, problems were recorded at only 11% of stations.

This is according to Selectra calculations based on data from the government portal prix-carburants.gouv.fr. As of 07:50, out of 9,679 stations selling gasoline or diesel, 1,510 stations — effectively one in six — had supply problems.

Of these, 996 stations, or 10.3% of the total, had neither gasoline nor diesel fuel.

The situation has been worsening over several days. According to official data, on September 18, 11% of French stations had difficulties, on September 19 their share rose to 13%, and on the morning of September 20 to 15%.

The biggest problems are recorded in the Mayenne department, where 24.5% of stations are without one of the main types of fuel. In Haut-Rhin the share is 23.9%, in Indre-et-Loire 23.6%, and in Bas-Rhin 23.1%.

Shortages increasingly affect diesel fuel as well. According to Selectra's calculations, it is already unavailable at approximately every ninth station, with most of these cases arising over the last few days.

At the same time, French authorities emphasize that the country overall is not experiencing a physical shortage of fuel. The problem is largely related to the distribution of supplies between oil depots and stations and a sharp increase in demand at stations with lower prices.

In particular, since July 22, TotalEnergies has capped the price of gasoline at its French stations at €1.99 per liter and diesel at €2.25. According to Selectra, average prices at other stations that recently updated data are about €2.182 per liter of SP95-E10 gasoline and €2.419 per liter of diesel.

A difference of 17-19 euro cents per liter directs a significant portion of drivers to cheaper stations, where tanks are emptied faster than new supplies arrive. According to Selectra, nine out of ten stations currently experiencing fuel difficulties belong to a single network.

French authorities already allow tanker deliveries of fuel on Sundays when necessary to speed up restocking at stations.

Based on materials from: Selectra, Prix des carburants - Government of France, TotalEnergies