The increases in diesel prices caused by the war in the Middle East weigh on the cost of fuel supplies for the entire road transport sector in Italy. Territorial differences also play an important role
So far, expensive diesel in Italy has cost truck drivers 1.5 billion euros in additional costs. This is the estimate made by the CGIA of Mestre on the basis of data on the fleet in circulation, the average consumption of vehicles and the increase in diesel prices since the beginning of the war between the United States and Israel against Iran and the related blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. “Despite the 20 cent cut on excise duties introduced by the government on 19 March, in the first eight weeks of military conflict, road haulage of goods incurred an extra cost which, according to an estimate by Mestre craftsmen, would be around 1.5 billion euros” explains the CGIA research office. After having proclaimed the national shutdown from 25 to 29 May, the main road transport associations met with the deputy minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Edoardo Rixi, last Wednesday. For now, the strike remains confirmed, but the trade union representatives of the sector have welcomed the openness of the government, which has pledged to intervene to compensate, at least in part, for the price increases suffered with measures that favor liquidity for the entire transport sector.
the circulating capital
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How this monstrous figure is arrived at is explained by the CGIA itself. According to the estimate made by Unrae, the union of foreign manufacturers, in Italy there are 752,000 industrial vehicles in circulation with a mass greater than 3.5 tonnes (tractors, articulated vehicles and road trains). “Assuming an average monthly mileage of 10,000 km, an average consumption of 3.3 km/litre and an average price of diesel at the pump which in the last two months has averaged around 2.005 euros per liter (source Mase), the monthly cost of fuel for each heavy vehicle would have been equal to 6,075 euros; 997 euros more than in the month of February, when in the first two months of the year diesel was cost on average 1,676 euros per liter (source Mase). Therefore, compared to the beginning of the war in the Gulf, the extra cost for each heavy vehicle in the last two months has been 1,994 euros. Multiplying this amount by the entire fleet in circulation, the estimate is around 1.5 billion euros”.
territorial differences
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According to the reference costs of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, carriers should be paid between 1.30 and 1.60 euros per kilometre. This is the spectrum that, at least on paper, should guarantee coverage of fuel, personnel, tolls, maintenance and depreciation. However, territorial differences weigh heavily on this average. “In northern Italy, where the majority of industrial production is concentrated – continues Cgia – the demand for transport is higher and continuous. This allows hauliers to work more regularly and to obtain higher rates on average, between 1.40 and 1.70 euros per kilometre, with higher peaks in the more specialized services (up to 2 euros per kilometre, ed). Furthermore, the probability of finding a return load is higher, reducing the kilometers traveled empty. Going south, the picture changes significantly. The average fares are falling, often between 1.10 and 1.40 euros per kilometre, but above all the problem of unloaded journeys is increasing”. Goods traffic is in fact unbalanced: many trucks come down from the north full, but struggle to find goods for the return. This means that a significant part of the kilometers traveled do not generate turnover. And it is precisely here that the real difference comes into play. “It’s not just how much you earn per kilometer that counts – concludes Cgia – but how many kilometers are actually paid for. A carrier from the north can work with a very high percentage of fully loaded trips, while in the south this percentage drops significantly, eroding margins. In summary, the North-South divide in road transport is not just a question of tariffs, but of balance of flows, continuity of work and economic sustainability. And it is this imbalance which, following the increases in diesel prices in recent weeks, especially puts smaller and less structured companies in difficulty.”
the weight of the transport
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In 2024, road transport carried out by carriers registered in Italy confirms a structure strongly oriented towards the internal market. In fact, 97.6% of the flows of goods concern movements with origin and destination within the national territory, while international traffic remains marginal: only 1.2% of the flows have foreign origins and 1.5 have destinations outside the Italian borders. According to Istat, in 2024 road transport within the country handled just over one billion tonnes of goods.
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