Paris, May 7, 2026, 21:04 CEST
- Diesel prices slipped on Thursday, though the average in France stayed north of €2.20 per litre.
- TotalEnergies is capping diesel at €2.09 and gasoline at €1.99 for the May holiday weekend throughout its French network.
- Official figures indicated that by Thursday morning, 96% of French service stations were operating without supply issues. Still, some areas could see local queues form.
Diesel prices in France slipped ahead of the May 8 long weekend, a modest relief for motorists as a TotalEnergies discount steered more drivers to its extensive network of forecourts.
Diesel averaged €2.216 per litre on Thursday, slipping 1.1 cents. Roole Data, using official station reports from 8 a.m., showed SP98 gasoline ticking up to €2.124 and SP95-E10 at €2.038. Prices for GPL and E85 ethanol fuel were €1.077 and €0.852, respectively.
Friday’s May 8 public holiday hands French motorists a long weekend, pushing up demand at the pump. Fuel’s not cheap, with crude markets swinging, and when a national operator slashes prices, crowds quickly descend on the lowest-cost stations.
TotalEnergies announced a “prix unique” deal for the May 8 and Ascension holiday weekends, putting gasoline at €1.99 per litre and diesel at €2.09 at all 3,300 of its mainland France stations. The group’s regular May price ceiling holds at €1.99 for gasoline and €2.25 for diesel. If international fuel prices drop, the company said, those savings will be passed on to customers. Totalenergies
This weekend, TotalEnergies is setting a more prominent price floor thanks to its discount, but it’s hardly alone at the cheaper end. E.Leclerc, Carrefour, and Intermarché have been aggressively chasing low prices too, particularly off the motorways—where you’ll often see the widest price gaps.
There’s still no breakdown by region on supply, but according to the government’s fuel dashboard, as of 9 a.m. Thursday, 96% of stations reported no difficulty nationally. That leaves 4% facing issues, which is an improvement from 6% on May 5. Regionally: Occitanie sits at 4%, Hauts-de-France at 3%, and Île-de-France is at 5%.
The government’s official metric defines a station as “in difficulty” if either diesel or gasoline is out of stock—E85 and GPL aren’t factored in. According to the government’s site, this information is based on what station operators report. Prix Carburants
Local strains are surfacing. In Montauban, according to La Dépêche du Midi, two TotalEnergies stations will participate in the May 8 offer, while a third location is shuttered for maintenance through May 13. The outlet noted there’s no concern about shortages.
The broader oil shock is driving the price action. Reuters said Thursday Brent crude swung higher in choppy trading after news that Iran turned down a U.S. plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Brent was quoted at $101.98 a barrel as of 1:36 p.m. EDT.
Refined fuels remain scarce. According to Reuters columnist Clyde Russell, Asia’s diesel exports dropped in April to their lowest point in nine years, while gasoil—the key ingredient for diesel—has climbed 55% from its level before the war, following disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz.
Lanxess chief Matthias Zachert sees oil prices holding in the $100 to $110 per barrel band for the coming months, flagging that high energy costs will continue to weigh on the sector. “This can change if there’s a stronger tendency to peace or it can change for the worse if the escalation on a military side comes through again,” he said. Reuters
For drivers, it’s straightforward: just because the posted price drops, that doesn’t mean you’ll fuel up quickly. A holiday surge or a sudden wave of buyers at discounted TotalEnergies locations might trigger lines or even empty pumps, especially if refined fuel supplies tighten. National figures could look steady, but local headaches may still crop up.
Drivers in France can use the government’s fuel-price site to look up current pump prices nearby or along their route, with the Economy Ministry requiring daily updates and instant posting of any changes. The DGCCRF handles spot checks to make sure stations comply.
