The mood within contractors right now is bleak, as they continue to struggle to fuel their machines.

Prices hit €1.58/L (including VAT) in September and October, though there has been a slight reduction in recent weeks.

Agriland contacted agricultural contractors this week with a simple question: what are the green diesel prices in your area?

The answers came with a resigned tone of defeat in people's voices.

With diesel prices changing every day, many contractors see no reason to think fuel will continue to drop in price.

One forestry contractor in the north-west said: "I can't run my machines on water; I just have to accept the price they give.

"It's a waste of time to shop around because I'm back with my tail between my legs the following week," he added.

A separate contractor said he was thinking of scaling back his operation because of the high diesel prices.

"I just have to stay going as long as I can," he said.

Slight drop in price

Agriland found that the average price of green diesel across the country this week was €1.56/L (including VAT), slightly down from a peak of €1.58/L in September.

The lowest price given was in Co. Cork, where green diesel can be got for €1.49/L.

In Co. Wexford, prices of €1.52 and €1.53/L were slightly better than the €1.55/L price quoted in Co. Westmeath.

The highest price of €1.60/L was recorded in both Co. Tipperary and Co. Donegal.

Green diesel

Separately, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has reported that excise clearances of marked gas oil, or green diesel, decreased by 1.5% over the first eight months of 2026 compared with last year.

The report on fuel excise clearances for August shows green diesel clearances for August 2026 stood at 86 million litres.

The CSO noted that this was the lowest August clearances for green diesel since August 2014.

Clearances are the duty paid on the quantity of oil removed from bonded warehouses and provide a proxy for sales.