UKOilWatch — UK Fuel Reserve & Price Intelligence

The UK fuel security situation in January 2026 shows critically low stock levels across all major fuel categories, with total reserves at 10.56 million tonnes providing an average of just 24.8 days of supply. Diesel stocks are particularly concerning at 23.3 days, representing only 1.47 million tonnes against monthly consumption of 1.89 million tonnes. This is significant given that diesel powers the UK's logistics network and the country imports approximately 40% of its diesel from Netherlands and Belgium refineries, making supply chain resilience crucial. Petrol stocks at 28.8 days (957kt) are also at critical levels, barely covering monthly consumption of 998kt. Aviation kerosene shows 33.5 days of supply, while heating oil presents the most acute shortage at just 13.7 days. These levels fall substantially short of typical industry safety margins and raise concerns about supply chain resilience, particularly given seasonal demand variations and potential supply disruptions. Current pump prices reflect market tensions, with diesel at 189.81p/L near the upper end of its 52-week range (137.54p-192.14p), though both petrol and diesel prices declined slightly week-on-week. Brent crude at $112.33/barrel (+6.72%) indicates continued upstream price pressure. However, analysts should note this data reflects January 2026 positions with a 3-month reporting lag, meaning current stock levels and market conditions may differ significantly from these figures. For logistics operators and procurement teams, these stock levels suggest heightened supply chain risk and potential for price volatility. The critical status across all fuel categories indicates limited buffer capacity to absorb supply disruptions, whether from refinery maintenance, geopolitical events, or transport bottlenecks affecting imports from European refineries.