UK v European Diesel Prices

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In our last UK boating season (2002) I would reckon on paying £0.28 - £0.35/litre for diesel in the Solent. I'm shocked to see that UK boaters seem to be paying in excess of £0.45/litre and I've seen £0.68/litre mentioned in another post. So it seems to me that UK marine diesel has nearly doubled in price since I left (somebody flame me if I'm wrong)
Contrast this to the Med. In 2003, I was paying about €1.00/litre (£0.68/l) in France. In 2004 in Spain, I was paying about €0.90/litre (£0.62/l) and in 2005 in Palma about €0.98/litre (£0.67/l) and in 2006 in Palma about €1.01/litre (£0.69/l)
It seems to me that the increase in the cost of fuel in the Med has been far less than in the UK and some UK boaters seem to be paying nearly as much now for UK red diesel as Med boaters are paying for standard white diesel. How can this be? Are UK fuel suppliers using the oil price rise to increase their profit margins or have Spanish and French govts reduced their fuel duties to keep retail prices down in their countries and, if so, why has'nt the UK govt done the same (and pigs might fly)?
 
I quite agree, I was pretty jealous of the UK red prices, compared with the med average of about E98-1.01 , but I do notice it has creeped up in the UK. Having said that its still a lot cheaper I guess when you have to fill up 800 litres or so.

Mike - does that mean you have spent an absolute fortune on fuel on your adventures around the Balerics and you are comparing how much you would have spent in the UK!!

Martyn
 
I think the UK Govt did increase the duty on Red Diesel a bit in last year's budget (6p per litre?). Other than that I suspect that either (a) you are right about fuel suppliers padding their profit margins (they can't be making much margin on forecourt petrol sales at the moment) or (b) it's all part of a fiendish softening-up exercise to prepare us for the end of red diesel. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

On the other hand, and over the same time scale, my local waterside petrol has gone from about 98p to £1.10 per litre, an increase of 12ppl, so it's similar to the ppl increase in Red Diesel prices - putting aside the likes of S*lc*mbe and D*rtm**th.

I'm suprised that prices haven't risen more in the Med, given what's been happening to the price of crude, but I don't think that the Spanish and French governments have reduced fuel duties. Onshore petrol in France has definitely gone up in price since last year.

Baffling; that's what it is.
 
I'm with you - I think its profiteering by the oil companies and possibly the marinas. Also, duty here has been increasng by 1 to 1.5p/litre per budget recently.

I'm told that in significant quantities - red diesel can be had in Falmouth for 36p/litre. I was quoted 46p/litre for 400 litres (but they couldn't fit me in that day). So why is it 58p/litre at most of MDL's western (Brixham, Plymouth) marinas? Why is it then 52p/litre at MDL's Solent marinas? You'd think MDL are buying as a group - and it can't be delivery costs as Falmouth is pretty far west & the fuel barge must be costing quite a bit to run.

Lymington Yacht Haven (about the cheapest in the solent, I think) were at 43p/litre (for more than 300litres) whilst MDL were at 52p/litre. LYH was also cheaper than Premier with their "at cost" pricing. Now "at cost" includes the staff wages and pump maintenance - but LYH must have the same overheads?

I had a whinge at the manager at Northney and he reckoned they weren't making much on fuel - but I'm not sure I believe that. If that was the case, the fuel dock would be whipped out and it'd be another 45' hammerhead berth pretty quick. I think I've only got fuel at Northney once this year.

Rick
 
Probably not relevant for marine but my sister took delivery of 1200 ltrs from the Q8 tanker at her riding school/farm last week at 0.36p a litre.
 
In addition to the price issue is a straight comparison also really fair.
My understanding (re mbm article last month and other sources) is that UK road diesel is quite different and cleaner than red oil - its not just road diesel with red dye added. Assume therefore that european white diesel is also perhaps different, cleaner and perhaps more powerful (octane rating) than some of the various grades of 'stuff' sold here in UK.
What's sold at marina pumps or from tankers can also vary in quality even though its all fronted as 'diesel'. Hence the further variation in prices.
Needless to say its all clouded in mystery (and black smoke).
No doubt someone with greater knowledge on subject will respond or critisise my thoughts !
 
In 2002 we were paying 25p a litre at Mayflower in Plymouth, two weeks ago we paid 50p a litre half a mile away at Plymouth Yact Haven, so I think you're right it has good as doubled. On that basis you would expect med fuel to have increased by about €0.35 a litre.
 
Over hear 'green' diesel is about 85-90c (51-53p) per litre from a marina pump, but about 72c (43p) direct from a road tanker (where most of us get filled). Car petrol is about 120c (72p) here in ROI, but I think your paying a heck of a lot more in the UK. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Don't blame the industry for high fuel prices, blame US voters for putting a vegetable in the white house with the intellectual capacity of a turnip. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif (and I say that as somebody who used to be sympathetic to US republican policy of days long gone by - a long time ago, eh Ronald)
 
Martyn, if I had been filling up in Salcombe or Dartmouth at £0.68/l, then I would'nt have spent less but, even after 4 yrs here, its still a bit eye watering to pay the best part of £1k to fill the boat up. I can see SWMBO mentally calculating what else she could have bought with the money every time we stop for fuel. At 20knots, my boat consumes fuel at about £1.40 per minute. Makes you think whether it's all worth it, eh?
 
Can some one tell me how much perol was at the garage, say two years ago.

I't does not seem above a year ago, I was paying as little as 20p for red, ok up to 28p.

It seems to be three times as much now. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
You guys are starting to depress me, maybe there is something in this sticks and sheet thing /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
"At 20knots, my boat consumes fuel at about £1.40 per minute." [ QUOTE ]


For 20 read 10, for 140 read 13. Hadn't noticed any price hike - but then I wouldn't, would I?
 
If prices in the UK are over 60p Its not that much cheaper Martyn. At current exchange rates we are paying around 68p.

Martyn
 
Anyone paying over 60p is being done. Mostly around 47p/litre in the Solent (eg. MDL is around 52p less 10% for berth holds - so 46.8p/litre).

Rick
 
Here's the thing though. Everyone's been jumping up and down saying that if we lose red diesel then prices will double and it will "decimate the UK marine industry".

Yet prices have doubled over the last couple of years and it's made zero difference. Marinas are still full, no one is selling their boats at half price, none of the things we're told WILL happen if diesel doubles actually have happened over the last couple of years.

Ho hum. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
Ha, just realised that I've replied to a post a couple of days old. That was a waste of time then, no one will see it.

Better post a new thread so I have a chance of it actually being seen I guess.

Bizarre forum /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
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