Australia's Fuel Crisis: A Comprehensive Data Analysis
Australia is currently grappling with a severe fuel crisis, marked by widespread service station outages, soaring prices, and significant disruptions to oil shipments. This situation has been exacerbated by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. In response, the federal government has implemented emergency measures, including releasing fuel reserves, reducing excise taxes, and launching a national fuel security plan.
Tracking Fuel Prices and Availability
To provide a clear picture of the crisis, we have compiled the latest data on fuel prices, service station outages, and oil tanker deliveries. This information is crucial for understanding the real-time impact on consumers and businesses across the country.
Average petrol and diesel prices have risen significantly since late February, coinciding with the onset of the US and Israel's war on Iran. However, price and availability can vary dramatically, even within small geographic areas. Fuel outages are not static; stations may run out of stock and later replenish as supply chains are adjusted and additional fuel is released.
Interactive Map of Service Station Outages
Our interactive map displays the number of fuel outages across Australia on a daily basis. Users can hover over stations for detailed views and click through dates with available data. Since data collection began on March 27, there has been a notable spike in outages in New South Wales and Victoria on March 30 and 31.
The chart below illustrates the total number of stations experiencing outages of at least one type of fuel each day. This estimate may be conservative due to varying reporting timelines across states.
Impact on Oil Shipments and Tanker Traffic
At least six fuel shipments to Australia have been cancelled or deferred, with experts anticipating further delays. The chart showing "port calls"—stops by tankers carrying fuel and crude oil—indicates a slight decline in tanker activity in February and March compared to the past six years.
Data reveals a dramatic collapse in tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in early March. Prior to the conflict, approximately one-fifth of global oil and one-third of fertilizers were shipped through this strait.
Fuel Reserve Levels and Consumption Rates
In early March, the federal government reduced the minimum stock levels that fuel companies must maintain for emergencies. Our weekly snapshot compares current fuel reserves to these new minimums and estimates how long reserves would last under normal consumption rates.
As of early April, Australia's fuel reserves, measured in days of supply, had actually increased from pre-war levels. This suggests that government interventions have had some effect in bolstering stockpiles.
Data Sources and Methodology
Our data is sourced daily from government fuel websites and APIs. Average prices for petrol, E10, and diesel are obtained from Motormouth. Government fuel data varies in timeliness; some is live, while other datasets are updated with delays or when stations change prices. All displayed dates reflect when data was retrieved.
Outage reporting differs by state: Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and the Northern Territory explicitly indicate fuel availability. For New South Wales and Tasmania, outages are estimated based on the types of fuels typically carried versus what is available. Western Australia's data relies on temporary outage dates for each station, with historical data from Fuelwatch used for March 26-30.
Tanker data comes from Portwatch at the University of Oxford, using IMF data. Counts represent port visits by tanker ships, which may include imports or exports. This data is sourced daily but not updated every day.
This page will be updated continuously as the fuel crisis evolves. Any significant corrections will be footnoted in accordance with editorial standards.
