Fuel costs squeezing margins for some Jersey businesses

Fuel costs are also having a “noticeable impact” for tree surgeons, Jonathan Le Maistre Ltd.

Darren Hopkins, from the firm, said “we depend on our vans, trucks, chippers, stump grinders, and other machinery that consume significant amounts of fuel”.

“Increased diesel prices will raise our operating costs, reducing margins on jobs and making it more difficult to absorb costs without passing some of them on to our customers”.

Hopkins said continued increases would be a “concern for their business, and the wider industry”.

However, some businesses are managing through the disruption.

Jeremy Phillips, from Barette Plant Hire, said it “hasn’t been too much of an issue so far, but that fuel surcharges are being added to hourly rates”.

However, he said that “if the prices keep going up, customers aren’t going to be carrying on with their projects”.