Global Petrol & Diesel Price Hike 2026: Country-Wise % Increase After Iran War ✍️ Sabbir Hussain 📅 June 10, 2026 ⛽️ Energy & Economy Global Petrol & Diesel Price Hike 2026: Which Country Got Hit How Hard — And Why India Was Different After the Strait of Hormuz closed in early 2026, fuel prices across the world moved sharply. Some countries saw hikes above 80%. Others barely moved. Here is what actually happened, country by country — with numbers and sources. On February 28, 2026, US-Israel military action against Iran set off what the International Energy Agency called one of the largest oil supply disruptions in recent history. Iran responded by restricting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes every single day. Brent crude climbed above $100 a barrel within weeks, then hit $110 by late April. What happened next...
Global Petrol & Diesel Price Hike 2026: Which Country Got Hit How Hard — And Why India Was Different
Global Petrol & Diesel Price Hike 2026: Which Country Got Hit How Hard — And Why India Was Different
After the Strait of Hormuz closed in early 2026, fuel prices across the world moved sharply. Some countries saw hikes above 80%. Others barely moved. Here is what actually happened, country by country — with numbers and sources.
On February 28, 2026, US-Israel military action against Iran set off what the International Energy Agency called one of the largest oil supply disruptions in recent history. Iran responded by restricting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes every single day. Brent crude climbed above $100 a barrel within weeks, then hit $110 by late April.
What happened next at petrol pumps around the world depended heavily on two things: how exposed each country was to Hormuz-route crude, and how willing each government was to pass the cost on to its citizens. The numbers that came out of this period are striking — and in several cases, genuinely hard to believe.
Petrol Price Increases by Country (Feb 23 – May/June 2026)
🇲🇲
Myanmar
89.7%
Petrol ↑ (Diesel: 112.7%)
🇵🇰
Pakistan
~56%
Petrol ↑ (combined)
🇺🇸
USA
44.5%
Petrol ↑ (Diesel: 48.1%)
🇦🇪
UAE
31–33%
Petrol ↑ (Diesel: 72%)
🇱🇰
Sri Lanka
38.2%
Petrol ↑ (Diesel: 41.8%)
🇳🇵
Nepal
~38%
Petrol ↑
🇨🇳
China
21.7%
Petrol ↑ (Diesel: 23.7%)
🇮🇳
India
7.8%
Petrol ↑ (Diesel: 8.6%) as of June 2026
Sources: Global Petrol Prices data via WION, Statista; India figures from Business Standard (June 3, 2026).
Complete Country-Wise Data Table
| Country | Petrol % Hike | Diesel % Hike | Timeframe | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇲 Myanmar | 89.7% | 112.7% | Feb 23 – May 15, 2026 | Global Petrol Prices / WION / Statista |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | ~56% | ~44–56% | Feb 23 – May 2026 | Arab News, Pakistan Energy Ministry |
| 🇺🇸 USA | 44.5% | 48.1% | Feb 23 – May 15, 2026 | Global Petrol Prices / WION |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 38.2% | 41.8% | Feb 23 – May 15, 2026 | Global Petrol Prices / WION |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | ~38% | ~38% | Feb 23 – May 15, 2026 | Global Petrol Prices |
| 🇦🇪 UAE (Petrol / Diesel) | 31–33% | 72% | Feb 23 – April 1, 2026 | Emarat official notification |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 50%+ | 70%+ | Feb 23 – May 2026 | Statista / Global Petrol Prices |
| 🇨🇳 China | 21.7% | 23.7% | Feb 23 – May 15, 2026 | Global Petrol Prices / WION |
| 🇮🇳 India | ~7.8% | ~8.6% | Feb 23 – June 3, 2026 | Business Standard, Al Jazeera, OilPrice.com |
UAE diesel figure from Emarat's April 1 official notification. India figures are cumulative post all four hike rounds as of June 3, 2026.
Country-by-Country Breakdown
🇲🇲 Myanmar — The Hardest Hit: 89.7% Petrol, 112.7% Diesel
No country in the tracked dataset was hit harder than Myanmar. Petrol rose 89.7% and diesel 112.7% between February 23 and May 15 — numbers confirmed by Global Petrol Prices data cited in WION's May 2026 coverage and Statista's Iran War fuel price tracker. Myanmar's highly import-dependent energy sector and limited hedging capacity made it exceptionally vulnerable to the Hormuz disruption.
Source
WION (May 2026): "Myanmar was hit hardest of any country tracked, with petrol up 89.7% and diesel up 112.7%." Also confirmed in Statista's global fuel price chart (May 8, 2026).🇵🇰 Pakistan — ~56% Since War Began
Pakistan's fuel prices surged approximately 56% since the Iran war started, according to data shared by Pakistan's energy ministry and reported by Arab News. The government raised petrol by Rs55/litre in a single March 7, 2026 notification — moving it from Rs266.17 to Rs321.17 — before further hikes pushed prices toward Rs378/litre by May. Pakistan was already under an IMF program before the crisis began, leaving almost no room to absorb OMC losses.
Sources
Arab News (May 2026): "Pakistan has recorded the world's second-highest surge in domestic fuel prices since the start of the Iran war, with petrol and diesel soaring 56 percent." Pakistan's Petroleum Ministry official notification (March 7, 2026) covered by NewsOnAir.🇺🇸 USA — 44.5% Petrol, 48.1% Diesel
The US was not insulated either. The national average petrol price crossed $4.50 per gallon for the first time since 2022, a 44.5% increase from pre-war levels. Diesel rose 48.1%. These are sharp hikes for a country that produces significant amounts of its own crude — a reminder that US prices are still largely set by global Brent benchmarks.
Source
WION (May 2026): "The US saw petrol rise 44.5 per cent and diesel 48.1 per cent. The national average crossed $4.50 a gallon for the first time since 2022."🇱🇰 Sri Lanka and 🇳🇵 Nepal — 38.2% Each
Both Sri Lanka and Nepal saw petrol rise 38.2%, with Sri Lanka's diesel up 41.8%. This is particularly notable for Sri Lanka, which only emerged from a devastating fuel and economic crisis a few years ago. Neither country has significant domestic oil production, and both are heavily reliant on imports through routes affected by the Hormuz closure.
Source
Global Petrol Prices data, cited by WION (May 2026): Sri Lanka petrol 38.2%, diesel 41.8%; Nepal petrol approximately 38%.🇦🇪 UAE — Petrol up 31–33%, Diesel up 72%
The UAE, which deregulated fuel prices in 2015, passed on the full cost of the oil shock almost immediately. By April 1, 2026, Super 98 petrol rose 31%, Special 95 rose 32%, and diesel spiked 72% — in a single month. These figures come directly from Emirates General Petroleum (Emarat) and are among the most precisely documented in the dataset.
Source
Emarat official statement (April 1, 2026), cited by MEXC News: Super 98 petrol to AED3.39 from AED2.59 (+31%); diesel to AED4.69 from AED2.72 (+72%).🇨🇳 China — 21.7% Petrol, 23.7% Diesel
China's increases were more contained — 21.7% for petrol and 23.7% for diesel. China has government-managed fuel pricing that adjusts on a set schedule rather than in real time. It also has diversified import routes and significant strategic reserves, which reduced the Hormuz exposure relative to countries like Pakistan or Myanmar.
Source
WION (May 2026): "China's increases were relatively contained at 21.7 per cent for petrol and 23.7 per cent for diesel."🇮🇳 India — The Delayed Hike: 3% First, Then 7.8% by June
India's story is more complicated than a single number. When the Iran war began, India held fuel prices steady for roughly three months while state-owned oil companies — Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum — absorbed losses. On May 15, 2026, India made its first move: a roughly 3% hike, or Rs3 per litre. Al Jazeera and OilPrice.com both noted India had delayed longer than almost any comparable economy.
Then came three more rounds of hikes in the last two weeks of May. By June 3, Business Standard reported petrol was 7.8% higher and diesel 8.6% higher than pre-war levels. Petrol crossed Rs100/litre in Delhi for the first time in four years. In Mumbai, it reached Rs111.21. The cumulative hike of roughly Rs7.5 per litre across four rounds was the steepest run-up since fuel prices were frozen in April 2022.
Sources
Al Jazeera (May 15, 2026): First 3% hike; petrol at Rs97.77. OilPrice.com (May 2026): India delayed; OMCs absorbed losses; Russian crude imports hit record 2.3 million bpd. Business Standard (June 3, 2026): Four hike rounds; gasoline up 7.8%, diesel up 8.6%. The Week (May 25, 2026): Delhi petrol crosses Rs100 for first time in four years.Why Did India Hike Less Than Its Neighbors?
Three factors kept India's pump price increase lower than most comparable economies during this window — though none of them are permanent shields.
The first was Russian crude. India had already built a significant Russian oil supply chain after 2022. Once the Hormuz crisis hit, India accelerated those imports to a record 2.3 million barrels per day in May 2026, per Kpler data cited by OilPrice.com. Russian crude arrived via non-Hormuz routes and at discounted prices.
The second was deliberate absorption by state oil companies. IOC, BPCL, and HPCL took on significant losses rather than immediately passing costs to consumers. This is the same mechanism used in previous oil shocks — but it is expensive. Wholesale inflation was already running at 8.3% in April 2026, per OilPrice.com.
The third was political timing. India had elections, and fuel price hikes in India carry enormous political weight.
Bottom Line
India's lower pump price hike was real, but it was achieved through deferred costs. By June, the bill had started arriving — and petrol crossed Rs100 in the national capital for the first time in four years.The Bigger Picture: Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters This Much
The Strait of Hormuz is roughly 33 kilometres wide at its narrowest point. About 21 million barrels of oil — one-fifth of global supply — pass through it every day. When Iran restricted that passage in early 2026, Brent crude surged above $100/barrel within weeks and hit $110 by late April, its highest level since 2022. The IEA called it one of the largest supply disruptions in recent history. Countries with the most Hormuz-route exposure and the least ability to switch suppliers quickly took the hardest hits at the pump.
Sources
Reuters (cited in Statista, May 8, 2026): Brent above $110, highest since 2022. IEA warning cited in Statista fuel price tracker. TradingEconomics: India gasoline prices moved from $1.02 to $1.07 USD/litre in May 2026.Summary: What the Numbers Actually Show
Myanmar took the biggest hit — nearly 90% on petrol and over 100% on diesel. Pakistan and the USA both saw increases above 44–56%. The UAE, Sri Lanka, and Nepal were in the 30–40% range. China, with regulated prices and diversified supply, stayed under 25%. India, through Russian crude imports and delayed government hikes, came in lowest among major economies at roughly 7–8% by early June — though wholesale prices had already moved far more sharply, and the deferred cost was arriving in stages. All figures are sourced from Global Petrol Prices, Statista, WION, Al Jazeera, Arab News, Business Standard, OilPrice.com, and official government sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country had the highest petrol price hike in 2026 after the Iran war?
Myanmar recorded the highest petrol price increase globally — up 89.7% between February 23 and May 15, 2026, with diesel rising even more at 112.7%. This was confirmed by Global Petrol Prices data cited by WION and Statista's Iran War fuel price tracker (May 8, 2026).
How much did India's petrol price increase after the Iran war in 2026?
India initially raised petrol prices by about 3% in May 2026 when it first passed on the Iran war cost to consumers. After four rounds of hikes by early June, petrol was up 7.8% and diesel up 8.6% from pre-war levels, per Business Standard (June 3, 2026). Delhi petrol crossed Rs100/litre for the first time in four years.
Why did India's petrol price rise less than Pakistan and Myanmar in 2026?
India significantly ramped up Russian crude imports to a record 2.3 million barrels/day (Kpler data, cited by OilPrice.com). State oil companies also absorbed losses rather than immediately passing them on. And political timing played a role — India had elections during the worst of the crisis.
What caused global petrol prices to spike in early 2026?
US-Israel military strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026 triggered closure of the Strait of Hormuz — the waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes. Brent crude surged above $100/barrel, peaking above $110 by late April. The IEA called it one of the largest oil supply disruptions in recent history.
How much did Pakistan's petrol price increase in 2026?
Pakistan's petrol prices rose approximately 56% since the Iran war began — second-highest globally after Myanmar — per Arab News citing Pakistan's energy ministry. In a single March 7 government notification, petrol jumped from Rs266 to Rs321 per litre, roughly 20% in one move.
How much did petrol prices rise in UAE and Sri Lanka?
The UAE saw petrol rise 31–33% and diesel spike 72% as of April 1, 2026, per official Emarat notifications. Sri Lanka saw petrol up 38.2% and diesel up 41.8%, per Global Petrol Prices data cited by WION.
Did petrol prices increase in the USA in 2026?
Yes. US petrol rose 44.5% and diesel 48.1% between late February and mid-May 2026, per WION. The national average crossed $4.50 per gallon for the first time since 2022, according to the American Automobile Association.
References & Sources
- WION (May 2026) — Country-wise fuel price comparison after Iran war: wionews.com
- Statista (May 8, 2026) — Iran War: How Fuel Prices Shifted Worldwide: statista.com
- Al Jazeera (May 15, 2026) — India hikes fuel prices as Iran crisis bites: aljazeera.com
- Business Standard (June 3, 2026) — India's fuel demand outlook hit by price hikes: business-standard.com
- Arab News (May 2026) — Pakistan fuel price hikes second-highest in world: arabnews.com
- OilPrice.com (May 2026) — India Raises Fuel Prices for the First Time in Four Years: oilprice.com
- The Week (May 25, 2026) — Petrol at Rs100 and beyond: theweek.in
- MEXC News / Emarat (April 1, 2026) — UAE raises fuel prices more than 30%: mexc.com
- NewsOnAir (March 7, 2026) — Pakistan government increases petrol and diesel prices: newsonair.gov.in
- Databoks / Global Petrol Prices (March 25, 2026) — Three weeks of war: gas prices rise in 106 countries: databoks.katadata.co.id
All data cited from publicly available sources listed in the References section. Last updated: June 10, 2026.
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