The key facts

  • Protests over diesel prices halted the Interporto Sud Europa terminal between Marcianise and Maddaloni in the province of Caserta
  • Deliveries of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and grapes to Rome have decreased, wholesale prices have risen — Rome Agri-Food Centre
  • Deputy Minister Rixi: about €1 billion unlocked, including €480 million in contributions and more than €150 million in tax credits; the tax credit will be paid out in 2027

Blockades in the south of the country

Protests by truck drivers over rising diesel prices continued on Tuesday in southern Italy, disrupting freight transport and slowing the delivery of fresh produce to Rome, the Italian state broadcaster Rai News reported. Operations at the Interporto Sud Europa freight terminal between Marcianise and Maddaloni in the province of Caserta were halted: a long column of trucks blocked access to the logistics hub.

Food shortages and rising prices

According to the observatory of the Rome Agri-Food Centre, deliveries of vegetables and fruit from southern Italy to Rome have slowed. The reduced supply of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and grapes has led to higher wholesale prices, and reliance on imports to compensate for the shortage is increasing.

Government measures

Deputy Transport Minister Edoardo Rixi said the government had begun disbursing €480 million ($538 million) in contributions for the road haulage sector. According to him, the funds cover applications submitted by August 30, and additional funding will be provided for September and October. The tax credit, he added, will be paid out in 2027.

'About €1 billion' and a call to end the blockades

'We have unlocked about €1 billion ($1.12 billion),' Rixi said after a meeting with transport associations in Milan, which was attended by Transport Minister Matteo Salvini. He added that the government has also allocated more than €150 million ($168 million) to support hauliers through tax credits and measures related to the EU emissions trading system. 'The demands are justified, but road blockades cannot continue indefinitely,' Rixi said, calling for the blockades to end.

Geography of the protests and Sicily's position

Truck drivers and farmers are holding protests across southern Italy, including Apulia, Sicily, Molise and Calabria, demanding government action over rising fuel prices. The Sicilian transport committee said its action is limited to the island's ports and the unloading of semi-trailers from ships, and that it will end as soon as Salvini officially signs the commitments needed to release the funds.