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Heating oil news

Market brief archive

23 briefs
Since 1 September 2026

Each brief explains what moved UK heating oil prices and what it meant for a 1,000-litre fill on the day it was written. For today's prices, see the latest brief or the price chart.

November 2026

  1. Crude falls below $90 for the first time since August as Qatar reports progress on Iran talksCrude oil fell below $90 a barrel this week for the first time since August as Qatar reported progress on US-Iran talks. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,080 including VAT, the cheapest since early September and roughly £20 less than a week ago.
  2. Trump says new Iran strikes are highly unlikely and crude falls again as Qatar heads to the White HousePresident Trump said new attacks on Iran are highly unlikely while talks move forward, and crude fell again on Monday. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,100 including VAT, about the same as Saturday and roughly £60 less than a week ago.
  3. Crude has its worst week since 2020 on Iran deal hopes, and UK heating oil follows it downCrude oil had its worst week since April 2020 on hopes the US midterms bring a deal with Iran, and UK heating oil has followed it down. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,110 including VAT, roughly £70 less than a week ago.
  4. Oil drops below $95 a barrel after the US midterms, then climbs back as more ships are hit in the GulfCrude fell nearly 9% on Wednesday on hopes the US midterms bring an Iran deal, then climbed back on Thursday as more ships were hit in the Gulf. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,150 including VAT, roughly £10 less than at Wednesday's brief.
  5. Oil falls on hopes of Iran talks as Democrats win Congress in the US midtermsCrude had its biggest one-day fall since July on Monday as Iran signalled it would talk, and Democrats won Congress on Tuesday. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,170 including VAT, roughly £30 less than a week ago.

October 2026

  1. Budget suspends the tariff on imported heating oil and pays £100 towards energy bills in EnglandThe Budget lifts the 4% tariff on imported heating oil from 26 November and pays £100 to homes in council tax bands A to D in England from January, oil homes included. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,190 including VAT.
  2. Plans for new Iran strikes push crude to a six-month high as Houthis fire at Saudi oilReports that America and Israel plan fresh strikes on Iran after 3 November took crude to a six-month high, though heating oil rose far less. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,200 including VAT, roughly £30 up on the week.
  3. Ministers review the 500 litre minimum order, which no law actually requiresThe government is reviewing why suppliers will not usually deliver under 500 litres, after saying the rules set no minimum: the limit is the meter on each tanker. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,200 including VAT, about the same as on Monday.
  4. Tanker attacks push crude to a five-month high as Trump pauses new Russia sanctionsA 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,200 including VAT, £10 less than Thursday. Attacks around Hormuz pushed crude to its highest since May, while Trump paused new Russia sanctions to help his diesel deal.
  5. Ukraine drops Trump's energy truce as the IEA speeds up its emergency diesel releaseA 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,210 including VAT, level with Monday. The Russia-Ukraine energy truce has unravelled, so extra Russian diesel looks slow to come, and the IEA's faster release adds no new fuel.
  6. Iran's tanker attacks push heating oil up as Trump strikes a Russian diesel dealA 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,210 including VAT, up from about £1,150 on Wednesday, after Iran's attacks on tankers sent crude oil up. A Russian diesel deal and an unconfirmed Russia-Ukraine energy truce may take some pressure off diesel.
  7. Gulf oil shipments recover and the G7 deal takes the edge off dieselA 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,150 including VAT, down from about £1,180 on Sunday. Traders have marked diesel down since the G7 agreed to release emergency stocks and Gulf oil shipments recovered, though Russia and China are still holding back fuel.
  8. G7 opens its emergency diesel stores as Trump drops the export banA 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,180 including VAT, roughly £10 more than a week ago. The G7, the UK included, will release emergency diesel stocks over four months and the US export ban is off, but Russia and China are still holding back fuel.

September 2026

  1. Trump weighs a US diesel export ban as Saudi oil flows againA 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,160 including VAT, much the same as a week ago. Saudi oil exports have restarted, but a possible US ban on diesel exports is the new risk for UK heating oil.
  2. Saudi Arabia restarts its East-West pipeline, then an Iranian threat sends crude back above $106Saudi Arabia restarted its East-West pipeline at a low rate, but an Iranian warning that the war could widen sent crude back above $106 a barrel. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,170 including VAT, roughly £10 less than a week ago.
  3. Saudi exports recover but Aramco reportedly tells European refiners they will get no October contract crudeSaudi exports are recovering and crude has fallen to about $101 a barrel, though European refiners reportedly get no Saudi contract crude in October. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,190 including VAT, roughly £40 less than in Wednesday's brief.
  4. Saudi pipeline repairs could take three to five weeks, regional officials tell the Associated PressSaudi Arabia's damaged East-West pipeline could take three to five weeks to repair, leaving refineries facing a prolonged disruption. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,230 including VAT, roughly £200 more than a week ago.
  5. Saudi Arabia shuts its East-West oil pipeline after drone attacksSaudi Arabia shut its East-West oil pipeline, a route to the Red Sea that avoids the Strait of Hormuz, and Brent crude rose to around $108 a barrel. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,180 including VAT, roughly £160 more than a week ago.
  6. America and Iran step up attacks on oil tankers, pushing Brent crude above $105Stepped-up attacks on oil tankers further disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed Brent crude above $105 a barrel. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,150 including VAT, roughly £120 more than a week ago.
  7. American forces hit three Iranian oil tankers after Iran fires missiles towards an American carrierThe pause did not hold: American forces hit three Iranian oil tankers and Brent crude climbed back above $95 a barrel. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,030 including VAT, roughly £120 more than a week ago.
  8. Shooting between America and Iran pauses as Qatar calls for a halt and offers to mediateThe shooting between America and Iran has paused and Brent crude has eased to just over $95 a barrel. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £1,030 including VAT, roughly £160 more than a week ago, though the climb has slowed.
  9. Iran fires missiles at Jordan after American strikes on its sites along the Strait of HormuzFighting around the Strait of Hormuz stepped up and Brent crude climbed to nearly $96 a barrel. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £975 before VAT (about £1,020 including VAT), roughly £35 more than on Tuesday and the dearest since late May.
  10. Russia stops selling diesel, petrol and jet fuel abroad after Ukrainian drone strikes on its refineriesRussia has stopped selling diesel, petrol and jet fuel abroad after Ukrainian drone strikes on its refineries, and heating oil has followed. A 1,000-litre fill costs about £940 before VAT (about £990 including VAT), roughly £60 more than on Friday.
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