Business · Energy & Commodities · 10 hrs ago
Diesel costs more than petrol in Italy as taxes and supply pressures rise
Diesel averaged €2.252 per litre in Italy on 14 October, compared with €2.035 for petrol at road stations.
The price gap reflects several factors, including tax changes that raised diesel duties under a reform that took effect in January 2026.
The reform made the tax on both fuels equal at €672.90 per 1,000 litres, lowering petrol’s tax and raising diesel’s.
Higher biofuel requirements add to diesel costs, with the required share rising to 12.6% in 2026 from 11.7% in 2025.
Diesel is also more complex to refine, and a shortage has raised refining margins.
Conflict has disrupted diesel supplies, including exports through the Strait of Hormuz, where about 1.4 million barrels a day passed before a regional conflict began in late February 2026.
Global diesel exports fell from about 6.8 million barrels a day in 2025 to 5.8 million in September 2026, adding pressure to prices.
On 14 October 2026, the average self-service diesel price on Italian roads was €2.252 per litre, compared with €2.035 for petrol.
The price gap reflects higher diesel taxes, increased biofuel blending requirements, refining costs and supply pressures.
A tax reform that took effect on 1 January 2026 set the excise duty on both fuels at €672.90 per 1,000 litres.
The reform cut petrol’s duty by 4.05 cents per litre and raised diesel’s by the same amount.
Diesel supply was also affected by lower global exports and disruption to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Who
- Italian motorists and other users of diesel and petrol are affected by the price difference.
- What
- Diesel costs more than petrol at Italian self-service stations.
- When
- 14 October 2026. The article says the tax reform took effect on 1 January 2026.
- Where
- Italy; the reported prices are averages for self-service stations on roads.
- Why
- Higher diesel excise duties, biofuel blending costs, refining costs and supply pressures contribute to the gap.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A tax reform set the excise duty on diesel and petrol at the same level, raising diesel’s duty by 4.05 cents per litre and cutting petrol’s by the same amount.
Diesel rose to €1.672 per litre, above petrol at €1.656, according to the article.
Global diesel exports fell to 5.8 million barrels per day, down from about 6.8 million in 2025.
The average self-service diesel price on Italian roads was €2.252 per litre, compared with €2.035 for petrol.
- Diesel price
- €2.252 per litre on 14 October 2026
- Petrol price
- €2.035 per litre on 14 October 2026
- Excise duty
- €672.90 per 1,000 litres for both fuels after the reform
- Biofuel blending
- 12.6% required in 2026, compared with 11.7% in 2025
- Diesel exports
- 5.8 million barrels per day in September 2026, compared with about 6.8 million in 2025