Will diesel prices really fall at all stations? The government will bring together fuel distributors in Bercy on Tuesday to ensure that the release of strategic stocks is reflected at the pump

Will diesel prices fall as the government promised? After deciding to release 10 million barrels of diesel from strategic reserves, the executive assured that the operation would result in a clear drop in the price of a liter at the pump, visible from the All Saints' Day weekend. And now wants to ensure that fuel distributors apply it.

The latter will meet on Tuesday November 3 in Bercy for a “first national point”, declared the government this Sunday. “The ministers will bring together fuel distributors in Bercy this Tuesday for a first national review on the impact of the release of strategic stocks,” announces a joint press release from the Ministers of Economy and Finance (Roland Lescure), Commerce (Serge Papin) and Energy (Maud Bregeon). Furthermore, “the monitoring of margins permitted by the barometer published each week” and “the controls carried out by the DGCCRF” will “ensure that the impact on diesel prices is effective and legible for motorists”, they indicate.

France announced in mid-October to make 10 million barrels of diesel from strategic stocks available to distributors over three months, in the hope of reducing the price of a liter at the pump by 12 to 18 cents. These stocks, purchased before the war in the Middle East, are sold at the initial acquisition price, i.e. 28 cents per liter, almost four times cheaper than the current market price of around 1.10 euros. Each buyer benefits from a volume proportional to their market share in 2025.

“This advantage must be fully passed on” “All stations will see their prices drop in the coming days, up to 18 cents per liter or even beyond, from November 1,” the ministers further supported this Sunday. “The drop in pump prices across the entire country will be gradual as each distribution network renews its tanks at its own pace and according to its logistical capacities,” they add, however. “Operators benefit from a reduced price on part of their supply, allowing them to lower the price of diesel sold” and this “financial advantage” must be “fully passed on to the final consumer, without additional margin for intermediaries”, we say in Bercy.

As of Saturday, Totalenergies reduced the price of diesel to 2.15 euros per liter in its 705 Access stations – its lowest-cost network which represents 60% of its fuel sales – or 10 cents less than the ceiling of 2.25 euros that the group applies in all its stations. Its other stations (excluding motorways) must follow from Monday depending on “developments in international markets”, according to the group. For his part, E.

Leclerc announced a drop of 21 cents per liter in the price of diesel at its 742 service stations from Sunday. Cooperative U will also offer a reduction in its stations of "up to 21 cents" per liter, with a timetable and magnitude which "will vary from one station to another", indicated the brand.

Machine-translated from French