Availability of Diesel in UK

HKF

HKF

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Hi everyone :)

We're visiting the UK in less than a week and, after 2 weeks in the US, we won't leave the UK until the 2nd of May. Can someone tell me what the situation is regarding the availablility of diesel, please? I've read that diesel may run out but not sure if this is just scaremongering by the press. I don't want to get stuck over there and not be able to get home. If it looks like being a problem, we could use our petrol car instead. The diesel one would be preferable but not if we're going to get stuck. Thank you :)
 
There are presently adequate supplies, albeit at increasing cost.

In some localities there are some believing the hype and creating abnormal higher demand, perhaps seeking to keep topped up just in case and also to limit price increase exposure. That can create a risk of false shortages rather like toilet roll during covid. So some garages, especially those that may have been slightly cheaper, have temporarily run dry awaiting a delivery.

Long term there might be issues, but short term people need to behave normally.
 
Not seen or heard of any shortages. Costs are very high and still rising though.
 
Tesco’s in St Neots had no diesel on Saturday luckily I was in my petrol car.
 
I think the issue is likely to be reduced availability over the coming weeks. We get most of our diesel from Holland and Belgium. They in turn buy the oil in from around the world and as Asia becomes 'dryer' due to the bigger impact on them then supplies from elsewhere will be much more in demand. This was reported yesterday.

Tankers that were carrying diesel toward Europe have changed course at sea, as the Iran war boosts prices and intensifies competition for supplies.

Four tankers — the Aliai, Minerva Vaso, Grand Ace6 and Elka Delphi — recently loaded diesel-type fuel in the US and started to cross the Atlantic, according to Vortexa and ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg News. The Aliai was signaling Gibraltar, while the other three were showing Amsterdam.

Since then, the ships have all made sharp turns: the Grand Ace6 is now signaling Lome in the West African nation of Togo, while the other three vessels are heading southeast. Combined, they’re carrying about 1.2 million barrels of diesel-type fuel, Vortexa data show.
 
I was told by a neighbour yesterday afternoon that Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons locally (Penzance area) are either dry, or have held stocks at 5% for emergency services use only. By complete coincidence, the local Tesco fuel station is also closed for three weeks for a complete rebuild, so that one is completely out of the equation.

Both Mrs Ejaydee and I have EVs so we cannot comment from our own experience on the fuel supply situation, but it is concerning nonetheless that people locally are now seemingly to be struggling to find fuel supplies. As the neighbours are relatively elderly, we have offered to drive them about to get their shopping and for any appointments etc.
 
We have had no diesel at uttoxeter Tesco for a couple of weeks now but I went down yesterday to get some petrol for the mower and they were completely shut with a tanker there anyway we went in the supermarket and when we came out there was two vans waiting at the entrance so we got in line as one of them had asked and been told it would open in five minutes.
Right they opened and the three of us went to the pumps, you wouldn't believe it but before I had filled my cans there was a queue out onto the road, must have been on Facebook or something that they had diesel, it didn't look as if it was going to last very long.
 
Local Tesco store to me closed their fuel station yesterday, no petrol or diesel.
We stopped at Reading Costco fuel station yesterday on the way back home from a trip to Wales and the queues were horrendous.
 
My experience suggests filling up when half empty is now prudent.
A keenly priced Sainsbury's at Walton Summit, Preston had run out of both petrol and diesel late last Thursday. My local Sainsbury's had diesel but no petrol two days later but diesel was readily available at other PFS less keenly priced.

My take is that courtesy of Facebook petrol and diesel is now sat in the brim full tanks of panicky motorists rather than in PFS storage tanks and bowsers. Once everybody's tanks (and jerry cans!) are full the situation will return to normal albeit at a much higher price.

So as long as you fill up before you get too low the worst that can happen is that you pay over the odds to fill up.
 
Montezuma said:
I wouldn't bother coming to the UK; it's crap.

I'd rather run out of fuel in France than here. :giggle:
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Unfortunately, we have to visit to fly from Heathrow to the US and back again. At each side of that journey, we have appointments in the UK. If we didn't have that to do, I think we'd be off down to Spain in the MH ::bigsmile:
 
No Shortage yet, but I expect there will be soon.
Most of the UKs diesel comes from Holland and they get oil from the Gulf.
Gulf to Holland by ship is about a month.
 
It looks as if it is mostly supermarkets that are either out or running low because it's cheapest place to buy. We filled up no problem at Esso.
 
I am getting ready to produce ID letters for my care staff - I am not saying it will come to that, but I hope for the best case, plan for the worst

(And am so pissed - was going to lob a molotov at the fag ash fuhrer in Norwich tonight but can't afford the petrol.....)
 
Tesco at Bury St Edmunds was out on Tuesday but Sainsbury at the next junction had plenty but were busy. Needed to fill the car with petrol yesterday again Sainsbury Ipswich was busy but no shortage. The person in a Evoque at the pump in front to of me was obviously a 'topper' (or replace two letters with an alternative if you prefer!) He took ages to fill it but the pump showed just 11.3 litres when I got to it.

I don't think there is a shortage just that some are using even more fuel carrying around near full tanks.

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Filled the van up at Costco a couple of weeks ago which always has queues because of the cheap fuel, but they were no different to ususal.

Diesel was a full 20p cheaper there than some of the motorway services!
 
I went into a BP garage on the way back from a rally on Saturday afternoon, on the basis that my usual haunt, Asdas, would either be rammed, as half term just started and or low on certain fuels.
The BP garage had some pumps closed off and I paid £197.9 per lt for the privilege as all they had was premium!
 
Only in 🇬🇧. It takes one kno*b on faceache so and so has no fuel and off they go.
When do you think you’ll get the toilet paper shortage with a 5year old photo of empty shelves.

I was considering cutting our trip to Spain short. But not anymore.
Not seen a single sign of shortage and diesel at £1.45.
Time to sell up 🇬🇧 and get out permanently I think.
 
meanders said:
Tesco at Bury St Edmunds was out on Tuesday but Sainsbury at the next junction had plenty but were busy. Needed to fill the car with petrol yesterday again Sainsbury Ipswich was busy but no shortage. The person in a Evoque at the pump in front to of me was obviously a 'topper' (or replace two letters with an alternative if you prefer!) He took ages to fill it but the pump showed just 11.3 litres when I got to it.

I don't think there is a shortage just that some are using even more fuel carrying around near full tanks.
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Or maybe he is about to set out on a long journey and unsure where he will find fresh supplies in unfamiliar territory where he is going? More likely you have got it right but I pass on my thoughts as many of us are travelling over Easter and will be unsure of where we can fill up.

I am heading for Dumfries and Galloway. My PVC tank is brim full so I should be able to make it there and back without a problem but I have diesel heating to throw into the mix and I need enough spare to cope with e.g. an M6 closure and diversion on my return journey. (I would also like the van brim full again sooner rather than later ready for my trip to Brittany one month later.)
 

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