Australia Alert to Fuel Demand Spike From Middle East Conflict

An oil well on Barrow Island, Australia. — An oil well on Barrow Island, Australia.
Photographer: Lisa Maree Williams/Bloomberg

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By James Mayger

March 9, 2026 at 5:07 AM UTC

Australia is seeing a surge in demand for fuel from consumers stocking up to avoid any potential supply disruptions from a deepening conflict in the Middle East.

“There is some supply chain issues which is really being caused by a spike in demand of people seeking to buy extra diesel,” Energy Minister Chris Bowen said Monday in Sydney.