An opinion piece argues that crude prices do not reflect the full economic impact of a diesel supply squeeze, with refining capacity down and the Middle East conflict ongoing alongside looming U.S. sanctions on Iran.
The argument is that the physical fuel market is tighter than crude oil prices currently suggest, with diesel being the fuel that powers trucks, farms, and factories. If the diesel shortage lasts longer than the conflict itself, as the piece warns, downstream costs for goods and food could keep rising even if crude prices stay flat.