Florida Faces Fuel Supply Vulnerability Amid Middle East War

Sunshine State pays premium for gasoline and diesel as supply chains disrupted

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:42pm

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A minimalist illustration composed of bold geometric shapes in shades of blue, red, and yellow, representing the flow of fuel from the Gulf Coast to Florida. Some shapes are partially obscured or disconnected, conveying the supply chain challenges faced by the state.Disruptions in global fuel supply chains have exposed Florida's reliance on barge shipments, forcing the state to pay a premium for gasoline and diesel.Florida Today

Florida residents have paid significantly more than the nationwide average for gasoline and diesel in recent weeks as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran forces the Sunshine State to compete with Europe and Asia for fuel produced in Texas and other U.S. states. The rare, lofty premiums highlight how Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has exposed vulnerabilities in oil and fuel supply chains around the world by upending historical trade routes.

Why it matters

Florida, as the third-most populous U.S. state, is prone to severe hurricanes and has no refineries or pipelines delivering fuel produced by U.S. Gulf Coast refineries. The state relies heavily on barges to bring in fuel, but producers have prioritized exports to Europe and Asia over barge shipments within the U.S., exposing Florida's fuel supply vulnerability.

The details

Florida residents this month paid as much as 15 cents a gallon, or nearly 4% more than the national average for gasoline, and as much as 35 cents, or over 6% more for diesel. Typically, prices in the state are below the average nationwide. High freight rates have added another layer of complications for Florida, as the barges still bringing fuel to the state were doing so 'at almost nonsensical freight rates'.

  • In recent weeks, Florida residents have paid significantly more than the nationwide average for gasoline and diesel.
  • Gasoline prices in Florida were back under the national average as of Friday at $4.06 a gallon as a ceasefire deal with Iran has helped ease supply concerns, but diesel prices still averaged about 6 cents over the national average at $5.77 a gallon.

The players

Tom Kloza

Chief energy advisor to Gulf Oil.

Patrick De Haan

Head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

Donald Trump

President of the United States.

Ron DeSantis

Outgoing Governor of Florida.

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What they’re saying

“Ships that would normally move product from the lower Mississippi or Houston to Florida ports are largely headed elsewhere.”

— Tom Kloza, Chief energy advisor to Gulf Oil

“Florida is uniquely susceptible to this situation because the majority of its fuel, except in the panhandle, is brought in via barges.”

— Patrick De Haan, Head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy

What’s next

High gasoline and diesel prices have become a major concern for President Donald Trump and his Republican Party as they prepare for November's midterm elections. The president and top Republicans, including outgoing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have regularly attacked Democrats for high fuel costs in states like California.

The takeaway

Florida's reliance on barge supplies from the U.S. Gulf Coast has become a bigger concern for the state because of rapid population growth resulting in higher demand, exposing the state's vulnerability to disruptions in fuel supply chains.