UK van operators face £2.5bn extra diesel bill, prompting fuel duty backlash
Millions of British van drivers will incur roughly £2.5 bn more in diesel expenses this year, driving total fuel outlays to about £8.5 bn and fueling demands to drop the planned fuel duty rise.
New calculations from Moneysupermarket indicate that diesel-fueling van and pickup owners in Britain will collectively face an additional £2.5 bn in costs this year, raising total pump spending to about £8.5 bn—well above the £5.95 bn recorded last year. The jump follows diesel hitting over £2 per litre, a level driven by refinery outages in the Middle East and Russia after the US-Israel war on Iran began. With roughly 95 % of light commercial vehicles still diesel-powered, the Road Haulage Association warns that a slated fuel-duty rise of 3p per litre from 1 January and a further 2p from 1 March would be a “hammer blow” to firms operating on margins of around 2 %.
RAC data confirms diesel remains about 57p per litre higher than pre-conflict levels, adding to household fuel bills. Industry representatives are pressing the chancellor for a 15p-per-litre rebate, citing similar measures in Spain, France and Italy, while also suggesting extensions of existing duty cuts or VAT reductions. The higher logistics costs risk being passed to consumers through increased food and goods prices.
Why it matters
Higher diesel costs threaten road-haul businesses and could push up prices for everyday goods.
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