Northern Ireland Fuel Crisis: Prices Soar, Queues Form

0:00On March 31st, fuel shortages are hitting Northern Ireland hard, driving a petrol and diesel prices with some stations completely out of stock. In the greater Belfast area, pumps at places like Sainsbury's and Holywood Exchange and Tesco and Nakhna Goni ran dry over the weekend and into Monday, leaving drivers queuing for the last drops. Prices keep climbing too. With diesel hitting its highest since November 2022 across the UK, in Central and East Belfast, unleaded petrol sits around 149 pence per liter, while diesel ranges from 172 to 179 pence. Local spots like Go on Grave Victoria Street saw petrol jump 10 pence and diesel 25 pence since early March. Drivers are frustrated with the cues and empty pumps, but businesses fill it even more in their wallets. Shipping firms report fuel costs, pushing up surcharges like B.A.F. and ETS, forcing them to optimize routes and consolidate loads just to stay afloat.

1:01Logistics bosses say fuel is their biggest expense, so they're reviewing surcharges and urging forward planning. The RAC notes the average diesel car now costs over 21 pounds more to fill than before recent Middle East tensions kicked off. Supply chain players outside Northern Ireland face short-term pressures too. Economy Minister confirms no major disruptions to local supplies, with deliveries rolling in as normal. Models are staying in touch with depots and partners across governments to keep things steady, so plan your fill-ups ahead and wash those rising costs.