FUEL price increases will add billions of Euros to European fleet running costs, as new figures show that the price per litre of diesel has risen by 10% in most European countries during the past two months, writes FNN sister title Fleet News Europe.

Between September and October the price of a litre of diesel in Belgium increased by E0.11, in France by E0.06, in Germany by E0.13, in Italy by E0.08 and in the UK by E0.05.

This means that fleets with 100 cars in each country, each with an average fuel consumption of 8 litres/100 kilometres (35 miles per gallon) and covering an average 32,000 kilometres a year, will see their fuel bill rise by E109,400.

Simon Boggis, group fleet procurement manager at distribution giant TNT, said: 'Fuel increases across Europe are a topic of debate for us on a daily basis, and we have a dedicated fuel management team that studies the prices closely.Any increase in the price of diesel costs us tens of thousands of Euros extra across Europe which is a major concern.'

Fuel expert Keith Greenhead, director of fuel management at Arval PHH, said: 'Our customers are concerned about the rise in cost of fuel and what the future holds. It is a sensitive issue all over Europe.'

He warned that fleet fuel costs will continue to rise as global oil demand increases throughout the winter, and added that the global oil market was already running to near capacity, with stockpiles running out and refineries operating at close to peak production, even before the cold weather arrives.

• Click here for subscription information on Fleet News Europe.