By Harry Wise, September 2026

Oil Market Update: What’s Driving Heating Oil Prices This September

Firstly, hello. If we haven’t spoken yet, I’m Harry, the new Sales Manager here at Yorkshire Oils. I’ll be sharing these market updates going forward, so you’ll be hearing a fair bit from me. There’s a lot happening in the oil markets right now, so I wanted to share an update to give you the full picture.

Global News: Why Prices Have Moved This Week

Oil prices have risen sharply over the past few days, driven by a mix of supply disruption and rising tension in a key shipping region.

Saudi Arabia has shut down a major export pipeline following a drone strike near Medina, reportedly launched by Iranian-backed forces. The pipeline normally moves a significant volume of crude to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, and it could remain offline for five to six weeks while repairs take place.

At the same time, Houthi forces have expanded their control along Yemen’s west coast, adding further uncertainty to shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the busiest routes for oil tankers in the world. Refiners have also trimmed their production forecasts, tightening supply of refined fuel, and hedge funds have been buying crude, which tends to reflect expectations of further rises rather than a correction.

Brent crude is currently trading at around $107 a barrel, up from $104 the day before, and this morning’s trade reports rate kerosene a buy.

Local News: What This Means for Heating Oil Users in North Yorkshire

For homeowners across Ripon, Harrogate, Boroughbridge, Thirsk, and the wider rural North Yorkshire area, these global movements are already showing up in the price of your next tank.

Two weeks ago, we let our customers know prices were sitting around 90p a litre. Today they’re £1.14, and the conditions above don’t point towards that easing off any time soon.

Here’s how it translates closer to home:

Prices have moved quickly – around 30 pence a litre in two weeks, driven almost entirely by events overseas rather than anything local.
Markets remain volatile – nothing is guaranteed, and prices can move in either direction. We’re cautious about reading too much into any single day.
Timing still matters – with the conditions currently pointing upward rather than down, ordering sooner rather than later is a sensible move if your tank is starting to run low.

At Yorkshire Oils, we keep a close eye on global developments every day so our customers don’t have to. Right now, our advice is simple: if you’ve been waiting to see what happens, it’s worth getting in touch rather than leaving it much longer.

How to Stay Ahead

Order in good time – we’d recommend topping up when your tank reaches around 25-40% full, rather than waiting until it runs low.
Stay informed – follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or sign up to receive news updates to your email.
Support local – as a small business, we prioritise our local customers and deliver reliably right across North Yorkshire.

In Summary

Prices have risen quickly this month, driven by a pipeline closure in Saudi Arabia and rising tension in the Red Sea. Nothing about the market is certain, but the current conditions don’t suggest a fall any time soon.

If your tank is getting low, now’s a sensible time to get in touch rather than wait and see.

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