A spike in global oil markets is pushing diesel prices higher across Europe, with Italian motorway pumps reaching €2.50 per litre and Belgian retailers warning the surge is putting pressure on fuel supply margins. A dramatic illustration of how geopolitical shocks are quickly reaching European drivers and transport companies.
Consumer group Codacons reported that diesel at certain Italian motorway service areas has surged to around €2.50 per litre, far above the roughly €1.75 per litre average on ordinary roads.
Hauliers’ association Assotir says diesel prices have jumped by 10 cents to 24 cents across different regions in recent days. At the same time, some operators have also reported supply problems in parts of Lombardy and Campania.
The price surge is being linked to the escalation of conflict involving Iran and the wider Middle East, which has unsettled global oil markets and raised fears about potential disruptions to tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial chokepoint for global energy supplies.
Italy remains well supplied
Italian officials insist the country remains well supplied. Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said Italy holds one of Europe’s largest fuel stockpiles and has diversified supply routes, suggesting there is no immediate risk of shortages.
But consumer groups and transport organisations accuse oil companies of exploiting market volatility to raise pump prices quickly, even when the fuel in storage was purchased months earlier.
The spike is particularly visible on Italy’s motorways, where service stations typically charge far higher prices than ordinary roadside pumps. Motorway concessions often entail high operating costs and limited competition, resulting in price differences of 30 to 60 cents per litre even in normal market conditions.
Transport companies warn that even smaller increases can quickly translate into major cost pressures. The road hauliers’ union CNA Fita estimates that the recent increases alone could add roughly €2,400 per year to the operating costs of a typical truck, rising to more than €13,000 if high fuel prices persist for months.
Logistics groups are urging the government to introduce temporary tax credits or other support measures to cushion the impact.
Upward across Europe
Across Europe, diesel prices are also trending upward, though they remain, for the time being, far below the levels seen on Italy’s motorway network. Recent market data show diesel averaging about €1.73 per litre in Germany and Belgium, roughly €1.65 in France, and closer to €1.55–€1.60 in Spain.
In the Netherlands, traditionally one of the EU’s most expensive fuel markets due to higher taxes, the price is approaching €1.85-€1.87 per litre. Italy’s national average of around €1.75 per litre already places it among the higher-priced markets in the EU, even before motorway premiums are taken into account.
In Belgium, where fuel prices are regulated, the government currently sets a maximum legal diesel price of €1.923 per litre, although many stations sell slightly below that level.
By comparison, the €2.50 per litre reported at some Italian motorway service stations is roughly 60 to 90 cents higher than typical diesel prices across most major European markets.
Transport companies warn that even smaller increases can quickly translate into major cost pressures. The road hauliers’ union CNA Fita estimates that the recent increases alone could add roughly €2,400 per year to the operating costs of a typical truck, rising to more than €13,000 if high fuel prices persist for months.
Logistics groups are urging the government to introduce temporary tax credits or other support measures to cushion the impact.
Sensitive road transport sector
The impact is particularly sensitive for Europe’s road transport sector, where diesel typically accounts for 30-40 percent of operating costs. Because trucks carry the vast majority of goods across the continent, sustained increases in fuel prices are likely to ripple through supply chains and eventually feed into consumer prices.
Belgium presents a slightly different situation because fuel prices there are regulated through a government formula that sets a maximum pump price. The system is designed to protect consumers from sudden spikes, but during periods of rapid market volatility, it can create difficulties for retailers.
Industry federation Brafco has warned that some Belgian fuel distributors have recently been forced to purchase fuel from wholesalers at prices higher than the regulated maximum retail price. In such cases, stations may temporarily sell with extremely thin margins or even at a loss until the official price formula is adjusted.
The mechanism has led to occasional disruptions during past energy crises, including temporary station closures or delayed deliveries when operators cannot recover their costs quickly enough.
