Fuel Shortages Hit France as Global Supply Disruptions Bite

France is grappling with widespread fuel shortages, as hundreds of service stations report empty tanks amid surging demand and global supply disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in Iran.

According to the French Ministry of Energy, approximately 700 out of 900 TotalEnergies stations are out of at least one type of fuel. Officials stressed that the shortage is primarily logistical, rather than a reflection of an actual supply deficit within the country.

The crisis has been exacerbated by the government’s fuel price caps, which have prompted drivers to rush to fill their tanks. TotalEnergies has extended its price cap on gasoline and diesel across all French stations until April 7 to stabilize the market.

Government spokeswoman and Delegate Minister for Energy Mod Brigeon noted that less than 10% of stations are affected by shortages in certain products, emphasizing that the surge in demand, not a supply crisis, is driving temporary gaps.

Paris has announced targeted support for affected sectors, including €50 million for small and medium-sized road transport companies, €5 million for fisheries, and €14 million for farmers.

Brigeon highlighted that France’s strategic reserves, estimated at around 100 million barrels, remain largely untapped, with 14.5 million barrels released so far to ease market pressure.

The crisis coincides with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, causing the loss of millions of barrels per day from global markets. In response, the International Energy Agency has pledged to release up to 400 million barrels from global reserves to mitigate the disruption, marking one of the largest coordinated efforts to stabilize oil supplies in history.

The shortages, reflected in long queues at stations and flight disruptions, underscore the fragility of global energy markets amid geopolitical tensions, even in countries with substantial reserves and domestic stability measures.