Bosses at Owens Group say the surge in diesel prices — driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East — has pushed costs up by around 30% almost overnight.
Founder Huw Owen said the impact was immediate.
“We felt it as a company straight away,” he told the BBC.
“With a fleet our size, we burn a tanker of fuel a day. We used to order fuel a week or even a fortnight in advance — now we’re negotiating prices day by day.”
Inevitable’ price hikes
The warning comes just days after concerns were raised about rural families struggling to heat their homes — with industry figures now saying the crisis is spreading fast through the wider economy.
The Road Haulage Association has warned rising fuel costs will “inevitably” be passed on, meaning higher prices for everyday goods.
“Everything we buy is moved by road at some point,” said RHA representative Geraint Davies.
“If these costs stay high, there will be an inflationary effect — it’s unavoidable.”
Supply chaos and soaring prices
The crisis has also disrupted how companies can even buy fuel.
Owens Group — one of the largest haulage firms in Wales with around 600 vehicles on the road — says suppliers have stopped allowing bulk advance orders.
Instead, firms are being forced to buy fuel daily at volatile prices, making long-term planning almost impossible.
Global oil prices have surged past $100 a barrel amid fears over supply routes linked to the conflict involving Iran, sending shockwaves through industries reliant on transport.
Government under pressure
The RHA is now urging ministers to extend the 5p fuel duty cut, warning that ending it later this year would “add flames to the fire of inflation”.
But the UK Treasury says it is trying to balance public finances, insisting it will ensure drivers get a “fair deal at the pump”.
rom hauliers to households
The warning signs are clear: from heating oil in rural homes to diesel in delivery fleets, the same crisis is rippling across Wales.
And with businesses like Owens now absorbing massive cost increases, experts say it may only be a matter of time before supermarket shelves reflect the price shock too.
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