Before a meeting of all stakeholders in the oil industry at the Ministry of Economy on Thursday, April 9, 2026, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called for a rapid decrease in fuel prices for French consumers. “When the crisis started, prices at the pump increased very quickly, even though the tanks had been purchased and filled before the start of the war,” he said, following a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States. “As much as the government can understand that there may be three or four days of delay between the start of this ceasefire and the impact at the pump, it is obvious that the effects should be visible at the pump from the end of the weekend, beginning of next week,” the Prime Minister declared on Wednesday before the Senate. “In France, fuel prices could drop by ‘five to 10 cents’ per liter ‘very quickly’, according to the president of the French Union of Petroleum Industries (Ufip), Olivier Gantois.
Matignon’s tenant also mentioned “regulatory measures” that will be taken by the Minister of Transport “to allow exceptional logistical deliveries at night, on weekends, and to address supply issues at service stations.” The government will also “continue” its “support and targeted assistance policy,” added Philippe Tabarot, referring to “a new support tool for our farmers” to be detailed on Wednesday or Thursday by the Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard. On Friday, March 27, the executive had announced a aid plan of over 70 million euros for sectors most affected by the surge in fuel prices: fishing, agriculture, and transportation.
Technical rebound or sustainable trend?
The price of European gas fell by about 20% on Wednesday, at the opening of markets, following the drop in oil prices, which fell below $100 per barrel, a few hours after the ceasefire announcement. “It is significantly favorable to the markets as it directly reduces the risk of an inflation and growth shock triggered by oil,” summarizes Stephen Dover, director of the Franklin Templeton Institute. “The big question now is whether this is simply a technical rebound or the beginning of a more sustainable movement,” adds Fawad Razaqzada, a market analyst for forex.com, echoing the sentiments of many analysts.
With AFP.
