# Fuel pumps run dry in British cities, sowing supply chain chaos
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-09-27
Category: INVESTING
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/investing
Meta Title: Fuel Crisis Grips UK: Gas Stations Run Dry as Truck Driver
Meta Description: Gas stations in UK cities running dry as lorry driver crisis disrupts supply chains post-Brexit. NHS calls for priority fuel for emergency workers.
URL: https://financedigest.com/fuel-pumps-run-dry-in-british-cities-sowing-supply-chain-chaoshtml

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By Guy Faulconbridge and Alistair Smout

LONDON (Reuters) -Gas station pumps ran dry in British cities on Monday and vendors rationed sales as a shortage of truckers strained supply chains to breaking point.

A post-Brexit shortage of lorry drivers as the COVID-19 pandemic eases has sown chaos through British supply chains in everything from food to fuel, raising the spectre of disruptions and price rises in the run-up to Christmas.

Drivers queued for hours to fill their [cars at petrol stations that were still selling fuel](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-approves-effective-ban-on-new-fossil-fuel-cars-from-2035.html "EU approves effective ban on new fossil fuel cars from 2035"), albeit often rationed. There were also [calls for National Health Service](https://www.financedigest.com/mobey-forum-calls-on-financial-services-industry-to-address-evolving-business-models.html "Mobey Forum Calls on Financial Services Industry to Address Evolving Business Models") (NHS) staff and other emergency workers to be given priority.

Pumps across [British cities were either closed or had signs saying](https://www.financedigest.com/british-doctors-strikes-risk-patient-safety-minister-says.html "British doctors’ strikes risk patient safety, minister says") fuel was unavailable on Monday, Reuters reporters said, with some limiting the amount of fuel each customer could buy.

The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), which represents independent fuel retailers accounting for 65% of all the 8,380 UK forecourts, said members had [reported that 50% to 90% of pumps](https://www.financedigest.com/sales-forecast-of-canned-motor-pumps-market-analysis-and-forecast-report-till-2030.html "Sales Forecast of Canned Motor Pumps Market , Analysis, and Forecast Report till 2030") were dry in some areas.

Fuel suppliers said they [expected the situation to get back to normal soon](https://www.financedigest.com/rheinmetall-expects-german-ammunition-order-worth-billions-soon-ceo.html "Rheinmetall expects German ammunition order worth billions soon -CEO").

There is plenty of fuel at UK refineries and terminals, and as an industry we are working closely with the government to help ensure fuel is available to be [delivered](https://www.financedigest.com/cavai-and-azerion-deliver-industry-first-with-conversational-in-stream-video.html "Cavai and Azerion deliver industry first with conversational in-stream video") to stations across the country,” said a joint statement from the fuel industry, which included the BP, Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil’s Esso.

As many cars are now holding more fuel than usual, we [expect that demand will return](https://www.financedigest.com/lufthansa-expects-further-significant-improvement-after-return-to-profit.html "Lufthansa expects further ‘significant improvement’ after return to profit") to its normal levels in the coming days, easing pressures on fuel station forecourts. We would encourage everyone to [buy fuel](https://www.financedigest.com/indias-reliance-makes-rare-buy-of-russian-naphtha-ups-fuel-oil-imports.html "India’s Reliance makes rare buy of Russian naphtha, ups fuel oil imports") as they usually would.

The [industry’s message echoed the plea from the government](https://www.financedigest.com/germanys-lanxess-calls-on-government-to-help-chemicals-industry.html "Germany’s Lanxess calls on government to help chemicals industry") for people not to panic buy. Environment Secretary George Eustice said there was no shortage of [fuel and that there were no plans](https://www.financedigest.com/hungry-for-fuel-china-looks-to-the-u-s-europe-eyes-relief-plans.html "Hungry for fuel, China looks to the U.S., Europe eyes relief plans") to get the army to drive trucks, though the Ministry of Defence would help with trucker testing.

Hauliers, gas stations and retailers said there were no [quick fixes](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-demands-quick-fix-from-u-s-of-green-subsidy-law.html "EU demands quick fix from U.S. of green subsidy law"), however, as the shortfall of truck drivers – estimated to be around 100,000 – was so acute, and because transporting fuel demands additional training and licensing.

CABBIES STAY HOME

“We need some calm,” Gordon Balmer, executive director of the PRA, told Reuters. Please don’t panic buy: if [people drain the network then it becomes](https://www.financedigest.com/more-than-a-third-of-people-think-cash-will-become-obsolete-in-the-next-25-years.html "More Than a Third of People Think Cash Will Become Obsolete in the Next 25 Years") a self-fulfilling prophecy.

London taxi driver Paul Kirby said he had visited nine filling stations before finding one that had fuel.

“I’m okay for the next day or so but then it’s going to be completely out of my hands. If I can’t get anything, then the cab is going to be parked up,” he told Reuters.

Probably 50% of my colleagues that I regularly [keep in touch with are sitting at home](https://www.financedigest.com/five-ways-to-keep-your-head-above-water-while-working-from-home.html "Five ways to keep your head above water while working from home") today because they couldn’t get fuel at the weekend.

For months, supermarkets, processors and farmers have warned that a shortage of heavy goods vehicle drivers was straining [supply chains](https://www.financedigest.com/minimising-supply-chain-cyber-risks-by-asking-the-right-questions.html "MINIMISING SUPPLY CHAIN CYBER RISKS BY ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS").

The government on Sunday announced a plan to issue temporary [visas for 5,000 foreign](https://www.financedigest.com/golden-sunshine-and-golden-visas-draw-wealthy-foreigners-from-far-and-wide-to-portuguese-property-market.html "Golden sunshine and golden visas draw wealthy foreigners from far and wide to Portuguese property market") truck drivers.

But Andrzej Dobrowolski, a 44-year-old Pole who owns a construction and transportation [firm in Britain](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-considers-energy-bill-subsidy-for-industrial-firms.html "Britain considers energy bill subsidy for industrial firms"), said many drivers would scoff at such a proposal.

“Boris Johnson is inviting the drivers back and they are laughing,” Dobrowolski said. “They are saying: why should they quit their companies in Poland or Bulgaria or Romania or anywhere in the EU for four months?

What the British don’t [understand is that it’s not just the money](https://www.financedigest.com/anti-money-laundering-mess-how-to-outsmart-villains-by-understanding-their-networks.html "Anti Money Laundering Mess? How to Outsmart Villains by Understanding Their Networks") that’s important,” he said. Their [offer is at least three years](https://www.financedigest.com/new-year-new-home-special-offers-to-help-buyers-start-2017-with-a-bang.html "New Year, New Home: Special Offers To Help Buyers Start 2017 With A Bang") out of date.

Amid warnings of a dire winter ahead, some politicians in the European Union linked the [supply chain](https://www.financedigest.com/5-steps-to-successful-supply-chain-finance.html "5 Steps to successful supply chain finance") stress to the 2016 Brexit referendum and Britain’s subsequent decision to seek a distant relationship with the bloc.

The free movement of labour is part of the European Union, and we tried very hard to convince the British not to leave the Union,” said Olaf Scholz, the Social Democrat candidate to succeed Angela Merkel as [German chancellor](https://www.financedigest.com/german-chancellor-meets-auto-battery-bosses-in-mobility-summit.html "German chancellor meets auto, battery bosses in ‘mobility’ summit").

“They decided differently. I hope they will [manage the problems](https://www.financedigest.com/its-time-to-address-asset-managements-image-problem.html "It’s time to address asset management’s image problem") coming from that,” Scholz said.

(Additional reporting by Lucy Marks, Michael Holden, William James and Alicja Ptak in Poland; Editing by Catherine Evans, Angus MacSwan and Nick Macfie)


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