Commercial fleets, agricultural operators, and everyday drivers in Columbus, Brunswick, and Horry Counties continue to face higher fuel costs as refinery strain and global supply disruptions tighten regional availability.
By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer
Fuel prices across the Carolinas remain elevated as diesel reaches record highs nationally, creating pressure on gasoline markets and adding cost burdens for households and commercial operators in Columbus County, Brunswick County, and Horry County. Diesel and gasoline serve different sectors, but both rely on the same refinery system and the same disrupted global crude‑oil supply chain.
As diesel demand intensifies, gasoline availability tightens, pushing up pump prices for everyday drivers throughout southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina.
Stations across Whiteville, Tabor City, Lake Waccamaw, Leland, Shallotte, Supply, Conway, and North Myrtle Beach see a steady increases in both diesel and gasoline. Diesel’s rise is sharper due to freight demand, agricultural activity, and global shortages of distillate fuel. The same refinery constraints are limiting gasoline output, creating consistent upward pressure across all three counties.
Across Columbus County, higher diesel prices since early 2026 have driven fuel surcharges and tightened margins for trucking, logging, and agricultural transport.
Brunswick County’s coastal delivery routes are experiencing similar strain, with carriers shouldering higher weekly operating costs and reduced scheduling flexibility.
In Horry County, freight companies serving Myrtle Beach tourism corridors and inland distribution hubs face increased fuel expenses that are now affecting delivery timetables and service pricing.
These increases filter into consumer costs for groceries, building materials, and household goods. Everyday drivers feel the effects indirectly: when diesel spikes, refineries shift production to meet freight demand, leaving less capacity for gasoline. Crude‑oil disruptions in the Middle East and reduced Russian diesel exports continue to raise the baseline cost of all refined fuels. This combination has pushed gasoline in the Carolinas into the mid‑$3 to low‑$4 range, depending on station and supply timing.
School districts, emergency services, and public‑works fleets are also affected. Most county vehicles and school buses run on diesel, increasing operational costs for transportation departments in Columbus, Brunswick, and Horry Counties. Agricultural producers in western Columbus County and rural Horry County need deeper pockets due to higher fuel expenses for thier harvest and field‑prep periods – adding strain to seasonal budgets.
Analysts warn that without relief in global shipping lanes or increased refinery output, both diesel and gasoline could remain elevated through fall.
The Carolinas’ dependence on freight‑driven supply chains means Columbus, Brunswick, and Horry Counties will continue to feel the effects more acutely than urban markets with diversified distribution networks.
This content was generated with AI assistance and edited by Coastal Carolina News staff.
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