Ontario gas prices rising Saturday could make weekend travel more expensive for drivers across Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area.
Gasoline prices are predicted to increase by three cents per litre on Saturday, July 25, 2026, according to Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy.
The increase could bring the peak price for regular gasoline in the GTA to approximately 184.9 cents per litre on Saturday morning.
Diesel drivers could see an even larger increase. McTeague predicts diesel prices will rise by eight cents per litre, potentially reaching approximately 226.9 cents per litre in the GTA.
The forecast applies broadly to southern Ontario, but actual prices may vary between individual stations and communities, including Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa, Whitby and other parts of Durham Region.
Why Ontario Gas Prices Are Rising Saturday
The anticipated increases follow renewed instability in the Middle East and further disruption to international oil shipments.
The International Energy Agency says approximately 20 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz each day in 2025, representing about 25 per cent of the world’s seaborne oil trade. Disruptions along this shipping route can therefore have significant consequences for international oil markets.
The agency says renewed hostilities in July have increased uncertainty surrounding global oil supplies. Diesel, jet fuel and other refined petroleum products have been particularly exposed to the disruption.
When global crude-oil prices rise, Canadian gasoline and diesel prices can also increase because oil is traded internationally and typically priced in U.S. dollars.
However, retail fuel prices are also affected by refinery costs, transportation expenses, taxes, local competition and station-level pricing decisions.
Diesel Increase Expected to Be Higher
The predicted eight-cent diesel increase is significantly larger than the expected three-cent rise for regular gasoline.
Global markets for diesel and other middle-distillate fuels have faced tighter supplies during the Middle East crisis. The International Energy Agency has reported that diesel and jet-fuel markets are especially vulnerable when refined-product exports from the Gulf region are disrupted.
Higher diesel costs can affect more than personal vehicles. They can also increase operating expenses for trucking companies, delivery services, construction equipment and businesses that depend on commercial transportation.
Tips for Durham Region Drivers
Drivers planning to fill up this weekend should compare prices at stations in their community before purchasing fuel.
Prices may differ between Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington and Durham’s northern municipalities. Stations near major highways and busy commercial areas may also charge different prices than locations farther from the GTA.
The predicted prices are estimates and may change depending on movements in global energy markets, local competition and decisions made by fuel retailers.
Motorists should treat the 184.9-cent gasoline price and 226.9-cent diesel price as forecasts rather than confirmed prices at every Ontario station.
