Fuel Price Rise in 145 Countries After Attack on Iran
Since the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran on February 28, petrol prices have risen in at least 145 countries. These figures come from GlobalPetrolPrices, which tracks fuel prices in 170 countries and territories. The largest increase was in Myanmar, where 95‑octane petrol rose from $0.77 per litre on February 23 to $1.20 on August 17, a 56% rise. Bhutan saw a 55% jump, followed by Cuba 51%, the UAE 50% and Nigeria 48%. In 25 other countries, mostly oil producers with heavily subsidised fuel, prices either stayed flat or fell by single digits.
Impact on Driving Range in the United States
In the U.S., the national average price for a gallon (3.78 litres) of regular petrol was $2.94 before the war. It now costs $4.09, a 39% increase. This directly affects how far people can travel: with $50, a family sedan could previously cover about 718 km (446 miles). Today, the same amount only covers roughly 536 km (333 miles), a reduction of 183 km or 25% in driving distance.
Link Between Oil Prices and Food Costs
Oil and food prices move in lockstep; rising fuel costs impact every stage of the food supply chain, from fertilisers to shipping. Economist David McWilliams told Al Jazeera: “The lifeblood of the global economy is transport. It’s a logistics problem, a supply‑chain problem, and ultimately transportation is the energy of the global economy.” In low‑income countries, where a larger share of income goes to food and large quantities of grain and fertilisers are imported, rising oil prices can quickly translate into food shortages.
Products Made From Oil and Gas
Oil and gas are used for far more than fuel. They are raw materials for plastics, synthetic fabrics, cosmetics, detergents, paints and many household items. For example, 95‑octane petrol in Myanmar rose 56% from $0.77 to $1.20 per litre, the highest increase among the 145 countries reported.
