Business · Energy & Commodities · 9 hrs ago
Fuel-cost protests spread across southern Italy
Truck drivers and farmers are protesting rising fuel costs across southern Italy after diesel prices climbed.
The protests, which began in Puglia and Calabria, have spread to Sicily, Campania and Basilicata, with demonstrations and roadblocks.
The end of a fixed diesel-tax discount on October 6 helped push prices back up, to an average of about €2.30 per litre.
Drivers say fuel costs are making it harder for transport businesses to cover their expenses, while farmers also face higher fuel costs.
Roadblocks have disrupted travel and deliveries, and some areas have reported fuel shortages.
The transport ministry has scheduled a meeting with industry groups for October 27, but protests have continued.
Truck drivers in Sicily say their strike is due to last until October 22, and organisers there have said they could continue if the government does not respond.
Protests by truck drivers and farmers over rising fuel costs have spread across several southern Italian regions.
Demonstrations and roadblocks were reported in Puglia and Calabria, with mobilizations also reaching Sicily, Basilicata and Campania.
Transport groups say higher diesel costs are putting pressure on businesses, while some farmers and freight firms say roadblocks are disrupting deliveries.
The Transport Ministry has scheduled a meeting with industry associations for 27 October.
In Sicily, truckers said their strike was planned to continue until 22 October, while LA7 reported that the stoppage in Calabria would continue until Tuesday.
- Who
- Truck drivers and farmers are protesting; transport associations are calling on the government to respond.
- What
- Protests and roadblocks against rising fuel costs have spread across southern Italy.
- When
- The protests were continuing on 16 October 2026, after starting in some areas earlier in October.
- Where
- Puglia, Calabria, Sicily, Basilicata and Campania.
- Why
- Protesters say rising fuel costs are putting pressure on transport and farming businesses and household budgets.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Spontaneous protests began in Calabria.
The fixed discount on diesel excise duties ended, after which fuel prices rose again.
Il Sole 24 Ore reported protests and roadblocks in the south and a threat of a national truck stoppage.
Mobilizations were reported in Sicily, Calabria, Campania and Basilicata, alongside protests already under way in Puglia.
The Transport Ministry scheduled a meeting with transport associations.
- Fuel price
- Average diesel price was around €2.30 per litre, according to Il Post.
- Regions
- Puglia, Calabria, Sicily, Basilicata and Campania
- Calabria initiatives
- 17 trucker actions organized by the regional logistics federation
- Sicily strike
- Planned to continue until 22 October
- Government meeting
- Scheduled for 27 October
- Calabria stoppage
- LA7 reported it would continue until Tuesday
3 sources
What people are saying
a oltranza
Le tensioni e i blocchi autonomi sorti in Puglia, ormai teatro di una situazione in cui regna l'insicurezza e dove vi sono rischi per l'incolumità personale dei lavoratori, così come le iniziative di blocco già programmate da comitati e gruppi autonomi in Calabria e Sicilia, sono l'espressione estrema di un malessere diffuso e non più sostenibile da parte delle imprese
Il rischio concreto e imminente è la paralisi totale della logistica e del sistema economico del Paese.
Un blocco logistico insostenibile - che da oltre tre giorni sta paralizzando la movimentazione delle merci, mettendo a rischio la sopravvivenza economica anche delle imprese agricole e agroalimentari del territorio