Europe fuel prices hit record highs as Norway diesel tax hike takes effect

Fuel prices across Europe surged to new highs on Tuesday as geopolitical tensions and policy shifts tightened energy markets.

In the Netherlands, the advisory price for a liter of Euro95 gasoline reached a record €2.67, up 3 cents from Monday, according to RTL . Consumer group UnitedConsumers projected the price at major highway stations would hit €2.668 per liter on Wednesday, the highest level on record .

Norway saw diesel prices climb to 29.48 kroner per liter by midday Tuesday, with the national average at 27.16 kroner for diesel and 25.97 kroner for gasoline, according to Drivstoffappen data reported by Aftenposten . Syver Orhagen of Drivstoffappen said some stations had not yet fully passed on a recent tax increase of 4.51 kroner per liter for diesel and 4.71 kroner for gasoline, suggesting further rises were likely. The tax hike followed the expiration of a temporary cut introduced before Easter 2026 by the Storting, Norway’s parliament, to shield consumers from price shocks.

In Spain, fuel discounts adjusted on Tuesday under a phased withdrawal of subsidies. Gasoline now carries a 5-cent discount per liter, down from 10 cents in August, while diesel retains a 20-cent discount due to a 15.7% inflation spike in July, exceeding the 15% threshold that triggers extended relief. Without further action, subsidies are set to expire in October. Since late June, gasoline prices have risen nearly 20%, and diesel nearly 24%, according to data cited by El Confidencial .

Natural gas prices also spiked, with the Dutch TTF futures contract for one-month delivery hitting €71.70 per megawatt-hour, a new high since the start of the Iran war, as attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz disrupted supply routes .

In Switzerland, authorities traced benzene contamination in groundwater in the Limmattal region to a September 2025 fuel leak at a highway rest stop in Würenlos. The Aargau Environment Department confirmed that a loose pipe connection caused gasoline to spill, filling a shaft and later seeping into the ground. The benzene additive ETBE, detectable at low concentrations, affected water supplies in multiple municipalities, though officials stated the water remained safe for consumption .