The surge in fuel prices as a result of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz is hitting small French businesses hard. Diesel oil now averages €2.267 per liter and SP95 at €2,050 per liter in France, levels that weigh heavily on the cash flow of transporters, farmers and fishermen. Faced with this situation, the government announced an emergency plan in early April, at the beginning of April, the government announced an emergency plan, here is a complete overview of the devices you can apply for as of today.
This is the flagship measure of the moment, the government has launched the Flash Fuel loan, deployed by Bpifrance as of April 13, 2026, in an amount between €5,000 and €50,000, repayable over 36 months with a delay of 12 months, it aims to strengthen the cash flow of the most impacted companies. No collateral is required for this loan, which is offered at a rate of 3.8%. Bpifrance Creation
In concrete terms, a company that borrows €30,000 does not repay anything for one year (excluding interest), and then repays around €1,250 per month for two years. The total cost of interest over 36 months represents around €1,700 for this amount. Adcf
Who Can Benefit from It? This system is aimed at VSEs and SMEs in the transport, agriculture and fishing sectors. The company must have been created more than a year ago, have fuel expenses representing at least 5% of turnover, and give Bpifrance readable access to its latest bank statements. Info.gouv.fr
How do I make the request? The request is made entirely online on the Bpifrance Flash platform, the public bank promises a response in 48 hours and a payment of funds within 7 days on average, no visit to a branch is necessary. Adcf
Beyond the flash loan, companies in difficulty can rely on another immediate lever. A payment term without fees or surcharges can be granted to transport and fishing companies who will request it from URSSAF. It is also possible for these same companies to request a spread of their fiscal deadlines from their Departmental Department of Public Finances. FNE-Training.
More generally, URSSAF allows any employer in difficulty to spread the payment of their employer contributions over a period of up to 12 months, or even longer in the event of a particular situation. To obtain this deadline, it is mandatory to have paid their employee contributions first, an important nuance that should not be overlooked before making your request. Urssaf
The government plan is not limited to the flash loan, road transport SMEs and SMEs facing major economic difficulties benefit from exceptional lump-sum assistance equivalent to 20 euro cents per liter for a total estimated cost of 50 million euros, a dedicated window will be set up. Directorate-General for Enterprises
On the agricultural side, for the month of April 2026, farmers benefit from an exemption from excise duty on agricultural non-road diesel (GNR), supplemented by flexibility measures in the banking sector and inter-sectoral solidarity. Ministry of Economy
The rise in energy prices does not only affect transport or agriculture, according to the Banque de France. According to the Banque de France, increases in costs related to energy and petroleum derivatives were still concentrated on certain sectors exposed in March, but in April, companies were significantly more likely to consider price increases. Bank of France
In other words, even if your sector is not directly eligible for aid, inflationary pressure will intensify on your margins in the coming weeks. Anticipating now by reviewing your pricing policy, negotiating your supplier contracts or consulting your accountant is the best position to adopt.
The current energy crisis is not a parenthesis: it is part of a sustainable geopolitical context and structurally high prices, for managers of VSEs and SMEs, the challenge is not only to survive the emergency, but to strengthen the resilience of their economic model, the aid available today: flash loan, deferrals of charges, deferrals of charges, sectoral exemptions, constitute a safety net, not a substantive solution. It is better to mobilize them quickly, and at the same time, work on reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
