Fuel shortages at French service stations are prompting Spanish hauliers to rethink cross-border routes. French Minister of Economy Roland Lescure confirmed that 17% of stations were missing at least one type of fuel, or about 1,500 locations. For the 20,000 Spanish trucks crossing the Pyrenees every day, those shortages pose an operational risk.
Official French government data and recent reports put the figure closer to 11% as of September 18, after authorities had earlier estimated it at around 10%. The French Ministry of Energy, through Maud Bregeon, says there is no national fuel shortage. It describes the problem as local, with authorities monitoring it closely.
The Federación Nacional de Asociaciones de Transportes de España (Fenadismer) has advised international hauliers to fill their tanks before leaving Spain. The recommendation is intended to keep trucks from getting stuck in France if diesel is unavailable, while also helping companies save money.
The shortages reflect a mix of policy and market pressures. The French government and TotalEnergies set a voluntary price cap on some fuels. Up to 91% of French stations experiencing shortages are part of the TotalEnergies network; another figure in reports puts the company’s share of affected stations at 90%. TotalEnergies stations sell diesel well below the national average, sometimes for under 2 euros per litre, while other stations charge 2.40 to 2.50 euros. That price gap has driven up demand and contributed to local shortages and a rush for fuel, especially in northeastern and eastern France.
Several French media reports and government updates say shortages have been above average in Grand Est, Pays de la Loire, Occitanie, and Centre-Val de Loire. Despite these local spikes, French authorities have confirmed that strategic reserves remain full and refineries are operating normally.
Not every Spanish transport group sees a crisis. Ramón Valdivia, executive vice president of the Asociación de Transporte Internacional por Carretera (Astic), says most Spanish trucks carry enough fuel for the round trip. For now, he says, problems are rare and mostly affect TotalEnergies stations. Fenadismer still advises companies to watch fuel levels closely and plan routes around trouble spots.
France’s need for imported diesel has added to the pressure. After sanctions on Russia, France had to find new suppliers and now buys from other European countries, the Middle East, the United States, and India. That shift, combined with global market pressure and shipping problems in places such as the Strait of Hormuz, has made it harder to move refined fuel across Europe.
The issue is also driving up costs. Eurostat says fuel and lubricant prices for personal transport in the EU rose 23.8% year-on-year in August; in France, the increase was 27.4%. Diesel prices alone climbed 8.3% between July and August, rising faster than petrol. The price gap between France and Spain has grown large enough to prompt French drivers to cross the border to refuel, saving up to 41 cents per litre, or about 20.50 euros on a 50-litre tank.
For Spanish hauliers, keeping trucks moving takes priority over finding the cheapest fuel. The risk of empty pumps on French routes has forced companies to rethink their plans. Fenadismer’s advice to fill up before crossing is intended to help prevent delays and breakdowns.
So far, there is no sign that the French shortages are spreading to Spain. Both Astic and Spanish energy officials say there is no evidence of spillover. The episode shows how policy changes and market shocks can affect cross-border transport and Europe’s fuel supply chains. Spanish hauliers are responding to unstable prices and changing routes shaped by political decisions, while a voluntary price cap in one country can disrupt logistics across the continent.
