And industry insiders say motorists should also expect shortages of unleaded petrol in the period leading up to Christmas.


Belford Petroleum's general manager Alan Smith said his Griffith-based fuel distribution company would run out of supplies by Monday.

"We're two weeks early with the wheat harvest and we've got enough diesel until Monday, but we're not waiting with bated breath for supplies," he said.

"We've been hearing the rumours about diesel fuel shortages for a while and we've found out today that Mobil was out of product."

Mr Smith said it took his trucks 14 hours to make the trip and back to Mobil's refinery in Yarraville for fuel supplies and that disrupted supply caused his company major headaches.

"We're so far from Yarraville so it's difficult to deal with fuel supply that turns off and on like a tap," he said.

Mr Smith also expects supplies of unleaded petrol to dwindle just before Christmas as the refineries shut down for maintenance work.