Nournews: The war in Iran has not only reshaped the region’s military and political dynamics, but has also spilled over into energy markets and fuel prices around the world. Data from GlobalPetrolPrices shows that between February 23 and August 1, 2026, diesel prices rose significantly in numerous countries, with increases exceeding 80% and even 100% in some cases.

Laos topped the list with a 149.7% increase, indicating that diesel prices more than doubled over the period. It was followed by Fiji at 110.1%, Myanmar at 85.6%, Lesotho at 84.4%, and Indonesia at 80.1%. These five countries recorded the sharpest increases in diesel prices.

Further down the list, the United Arab Emirates recorded a 71.8% increase, followed by New Zealand at 70.6%, Peru at 64.5%, Malaysia at 62.9%, and Tanzania at 60.4%. Nepal saw a 58.5% increase, Lebanon 54.6%, Singapore and Chile 54% each, Honduras 53.8%, Panama 53.7%, Vietnam 49.3%, Sri Lanka 48%, South Africa 47.9%, and the Philippines 46.4%.

Price increases were also significant in major economies and countries that play an important role in global markets. Diesel prices rose by 40.5% in the United States, 28.6% in China, 10.8% in Japan, 26.3% in South Korea, and 27.5% in Australia. In Europe, the UK recorded a 30.1% increase, France 23.9%, Italy 17.2%, Spain 14.4%, Germany 7.4%, Poland 13%, Ukraine 35.6%, Turkey 8.2%, Russia 1.7%, Finland 20.9%, the Netherlands 20.9%, and Belgium 13%.

North and South America have also been hit by the surge. Diesel prices increased by 23.8% in Canada, 3.6% in Mexico, and 2.7% in Colombia. In contrast, several South American countries experienced much sharper increases: Brazil 14.3%, Argentina 24.5%, Paraguay 31.2%, Peru 64.5%, and Chile 54%.

In Asia, in addition to China, Japan, and South Korea, diesel prices rose by 8.3% in India, 38.1% in Pakistan, 32.1% in Thailand, 62.9% in Malaysia, 80.1% in Indonesia, 49.3% in Vietnam, 46.4% in the Philippines, 54% in Singapore, 58.5% in Nepal, and 54.6% in Lebanon. The United Arab Emirates, with a 71.8% increase, was also among the countries hit by the sharpest price rises.

In Africa, diesel prices rose by 32.9% in Morocco, 17.1% in Egypt, 44% in Nigeria, 39.8% in Kenya, and 47.9% in South Africa, while Lesotho, with an 84.4% increase, ranked among the countries experiencing the steepest rises. In Oceania, prices increased by 27.5% in Australia, 70.6% in New Zealand, and 110.1% in Fiji.

The figures can also be grouped into five broad ranges: increases of more than 80%, between 65% and 80%, between 50% and 65%, between 40% and 50%, and below 40%. Reliable data was not available for some countries.

The significance of these surges extends far beyond the cost of fuel at the pump. Diesel is the primary fuel for a large share of road transportation, trucks, agricultural machinery, industrial activity, and the global distribution chain. As a result, higher diesel prices can drive up transportation costs, eventually pushing up the prices of food, manufactured goods, and services.

At the same time, the wide gap between countries shows that the impact of an energy shock does not depend solely on global oil prices. Reliance on imports, subsidy policies, fuel taxes, domestic reserves, and government pricing mechanisms can all affect how severely the crisis is transmitted to consumers. This helps explain why diesel prices rose by just 1.7% in Russia, compared with 149.7% in Laos.

Overall, the figures suggest that the US war against Iran may have activated a major channel through which geopolitical turmoil is transmitted to the global economy—a channel that begins in energy markets and reaches people’s daily lives through fuel, transportation, production, and the distribution of goods.

If pressure on energy flows continues, diesel could become one of the most important indicators of the economic cost of the war.