Italy truckers' diesel protest empties shelves, leaves 2 airports without fuel
A week-long truckers' protest over diesel prices has emptied supermarket shelves and petrol pumps across southern Italy and left Crotone and Reggio Calabria airports without jet fuel.
At a glance
- Truck drivers across southern Italy have blocked roads and warehouses for over a week in protest at diesel prices, which are about a third higher than before the Iran war.
- Supermarkets in Naples, Sicily, Calabria and Puglia have run short of fresh pasta, cheese, meat and produce, and many petrol stations are dry.
- Aviation notices say Crotone and Reggio Calabria airports in Calabria have no jet fuel; airlines were told to refuel elsewhere.
- Police have identified 1,339 people, reported 71 and issued 242 fines; the government warns roadblocks can bring criminal charges and has offered over €1 billion in support.
- Truckers' groups are due to meet Transport Minister Matteo Salvini on October 27.
A protest by Italian truck drivers over soaring diesel prices has left supermarket shelves and petrol pumps empty across southern Italy and, by Thursday, October 22, had left two airports in Calabria — Crotone and Reggio Calabria — without aviation fuel. The government says it is identifying and fining those blocking roads and warehouses, and has warned that roadblocks can lead to criminal charges.
What is happening
The protest began more than a week ago and has spread across the south. Drivers have parked lorries at ports, motorway junctions and outside supermarket distribution centres, stopping goods from being loaded or unloaded. Fresh food has been hit hardest.
| Area | Impact |
|---|---|
| Naples (Campania) | Empty shelves and dry petrol pumps; waste collection and public transport disrupted |
| Campania motorways | Roadblocks and temporary closures on parts of the A1 (Milan–Naples) and A30 (Caserta–Salerno), with queues of several kilometres |
| Sicily | Shortages of fresh pasta, packaged cheese, meat and produce, worsened by panic buying |
| Calabria | Crotone and Reggio Calabria airports without jet fuel; Lamezia Terme unaffected |
| Puglia (Bari) | Partly empty supermarket shelves; city services disrupted |
One Naples supermarket put up a notice apologising that some products "may be temporarily unavailable". Official notices to airlines said no jet fuel is available at Crotone and Reggio Calabria and told carriers to refuel elsewhere.
Why the truckers are protesting
Diesel in Italy costs roughly a third more than before the Iran war, which has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed global oil prices above $110 a barrel. A temporary cut in diesel tax that softened the blow expired earlier this month. Hauliers, many of them small family firms working on thin margins, say they can no longer cover their costs at current freight rates.
The government's response
Business Minister Adolfo Urso said authorities are identifying people taking part in blockades and preparing to remove them. According to government figures, police have identified 1,339 people, reported 71 to prosecutors and issued 242 administrative fines. The Interior Ministry has ordered police escorts for lorries, including 500 vehicles in Campania alone.
Urso warned that letting cars pass while stopping only lorries "still amounts to a roadblock", which can carry criminal penalties including prison. Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida said Italy must be "unblocked" so producers can sell their goods.
At the same time, the government is offering money. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini met national trucking associations on Tuesday and promised tax credits to offset diesel costs plus funds to modernise fleets — together worth more than €1 billion. More than 32,000 applications have been filed and payments have begun. Lawmakers are also considering a flexible cap on petrol and diesel prices as part of a fuel decree that has passed the Senate and is now before the lower house.
Reactions
The mayors of Naples and Bari, Gaetano Manfredi and Vito Leccese, said in a joint statement that the situation "remains extremely critical" and could get worse, and asked for the talks with Salvini to be brought forward. Several national haulage associations have distanced themselves from the blockades and called for roads to be cleared, while industry groups urged Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi to intervene.
Why it matters
The blockades show how the Iran war's energy shock is reaching ordinary households in Europe: higher fuel costs feed straight into food prices and, when drivers stop work, into empty shelves. Italy relies heavily on road freight, especially in the south, so even a partial stoppage quickly disrupts food, fuel and waste collection. Similar fuel-price protests have flared elsewhere in Europe. For Pakistan and South Asia, which also import most of their oil, the episode is a warning of how sharply diesel prices can hit transport and food costs.
What happens next
Talks between truckers' representatives and Salvini are scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, unless they are brought forward. Police escorts and fines are expected to continue in the meantime, and the lower house is due to vote on the fuel decree, including the possible price cap. Travellers to southern Italy should expect road delays and check fuel availability and flight status before setting out.
Questions people are asking
Why are truckers protesting in Italy?
Italian truck drivers are protesting against diesel prices that are about a third higher than before the Iran war, after a temporary diesel tax discount expired in early October. They want lower fuel costs and compensation for higher operating costs.
Which Italian airports have no fuel because of the truckers' protest?
Official aviation notices say Crotone and Reggio Calabria airports in Calabria have run out of jet fuel, and airlines have been told to refuel elsewhere. Lamezia Terme airport is not affected.
Is it safe to travel to southern Italy during the trucker protests?
Travel is possible, but expect road blockades and queues, especially on the A1 and A30 motorways in Campania, plus fuel and food shortages in some towns. Check flight status and fill up when fuel is available.
