Story perspectives

Truck drivers’ roadblocks leave Italian regions short on diesel

By Drooid · Oct 21, 2026, 10:49 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Truck drivers block roads and ports in southern Italy, disrupting fuel and food supplies.
Diesel prices rose to €2.257 per litre on non-motorways and €2.297 on motorways, a 40% jump.
Supermarket shelves in Naples, Calabria and Puglia were half-stocked or empty of fresh foods.
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini pledged tax-credit payments and new carrier legislation starting Wednesday.
By 15 October, roughly 150 of Apulia’s 270 Eni stations ran out of diesel.

History

Historical Context

The October 1973 OPEC embargo caused global oil prices to jump from $3 to about $12 per barrel, sparking fuel shortages and long gasoline queues across Europe, including Italy under Prime Minister Mariano Rumor. The crisis generated social unrest over fuel costs, a pattern echoed today by blockades in Naples, Calabria and Puglia.

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Story summary

Truck drivers block roads and ports in southern Italy, disrupting fuel and food supplies.
Diesel prices rose to €2.257 per litre on non-motorways and €2.297 on motorways, a 40% jump.
Supermarket shelves in Naples, Calabria and Puglia were half-stocked or empty of fresh foods.
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini pledged tax-credit payments and new carrier legislation starting Wednesday.
By 15 October, roughly 150 of Apulia’s 270 Eni stations ran out of diesel.

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