Dear fuels, a flurry of checks in Italy against speculation: alarm from businesses, farmers, and consumers

Strengthened controls by the Financial Police across the entire fuel distribution chain, in light of the sharp price increases of energy products recorded in recent days following the outbreak of war in the Middle East. The intensification of inspection activities was initiated at the request of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, in coordination with the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, with the aim of identifying and repressing any speculative phenomena along the chain from production to distribution.

At the center of the monitoring are the pump prices of gasoline and diesel, particularly the differences between average regional prices and those charged in self-service mode, both on ordinary roads and on highways. The first findings, reported to the Price Surveillance Authority, concern several dozen cases where amounts significantly higher than the reference values were detected, triggering targeted investigations to verify the possible presence of unjustified price increases.

Price Watchdog on alert: "Stop unjustified price increases"

"We have strengthened the monitoring by Price Watchdog across the entire chain, from production to distribution of fuels, to prevent tensions in the Middle East from becoming a pretext for speculation or unjustified price increases," said Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, announcing an operational intervention plan by the Financial Police. The minister explained that the strengthening of control measures was decided during the meetings of the Rapid Price Alert Commission, convened specifically to address the escalation of geopolitical tensions and the possible effects on energy markets and consumer products.

At the end of the meeting, Urso had a discussion with Minister of Economy and Finance, Giancarlo Giorgetti, for an update on the evolution of the situation and to agree on further measures to counter speculation. The focus is not only on pump prices but also on behaviors along the supply chain, to prevent international instability from being indiscriminately passed on to families and businesses.

Consumers: "Sterilize excise taxes and reconfigure VAT"

Concern over rising fuel prices and the risk of a new wave of inflation is also strongly expressed by consumer associations. In a joint statement, Adoc, Assoutenti, and Federconsumatori – which participate in the work of the Cncu – explain that they have "appreciated the timeliness of the convening" of the rapid alert Commission and the commitment not to leave "the slightest margin for speculative phenomena, harmful to consumers and the entire economic system."

"It is urgent to defuse the risk of excessive price increases and speculation, learning from the mistakes of the past. And it must be done immediately," the document states. The associations remind that, after the energy crisis triggered by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, grocery prices have never returned to previous levels, still weighing on family budgets today. For this reason, they demand a "determined and immediate" intervention that includes the sterilization of fuel taxes by at least 20 cents per liter and a restructuring of VAT, in order to prevent taxation from further amplifying increases in gasoline and diesel.

According to estimates from consumer organizations, there is room to also review VAT rates on some essential goods, with a potential benefit exceeding 500 euros per year per household. This move is considered essential to contain the effects of a new surge in food prices and consumer goods.

Transport: "Cut fuel taxes, not late subsidies"

The alarm is also raised by transporters, who are on the front lines suffering the impact of rising diesel prices. Assotir calls on the government to adopt "immediate effective measures to stop the rise in fuel prices, starting with the temporary and proportional cut of fuel taxes", described as "the only intervention capable of creating real benefits for businesses." The association, through its general secretary Claudio Donati, warns against reimbursements and subsidies provided retroactively, which "in a scenario like the one outlined in a few days, many businesses would receive too late."

According to Assotir, the rise in diesel prices shows no signs of stopping, despite the measures already announced regarding controls. "Before the situation becomes unmanageable, the Government must take useful measures to limit on one hand the inflationary effects, which would have serious consequences on the consumption of the most vulnerable classes, and on the other hand the immediate repercussions on the budgets of transporters, who do not have the commercial strength to pass the higher costs onto rates," observes Donati.

The risk, for the association, is of facing the "umpteenth paradox": more inflation for citizens and, at the same time, a significant increase in energy costs for road transport, without adequate compensations. Those who govern the logistics chain, explain from Assotir, will be able to partially pass on the increases to final prices, but it is by no means certain that they will recognize higher compensations to transporters in proportion to the new burdens.</strong>

Agriculture under pressure: Coldiretti and Cia raise the alarm

The dynamics of energy prices also deeply concern the agricultural world. Coldiretti, in a letter signed by President Ettore Prandini, has requested an urgent meeting with the government to discuss the "sudden spike" in diesel prices and energy costs, driven by the dramatic international geopolitical situation. According to the confederation, this escalation is directly affecting businesses in the primary sector and risks seriously jeopardizing their economic sustainability.

Coldiretti reminds that the ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz transport about one-fifth of the world's oil reserves, amounting to approximately 20 million barrels per day, making this junction one of the main critical points for global energy security. Italian imports of oil and derivatives from Gulf countries also pass through the same strait, representing almost one-fifth of our country's total supplies. The increase in oil and fuel prices, warns the organization, therefore risks having a cascading effect on the entire agri-food supply chain.

According to a Coldiretti analysis based on Istat data, food and beverages constitute the largest commodity group for road transport in Italy, accounting for 14% of the tons transported and 18% of the total in ton-kilometers, while 88% of food products are transported by road. For agricultural companies, energy consumption and fertilizers now represent on average 25% of intermediate consumption: an additional increase, the confederation emphasizes, could jeopardize the sustainability of production and the stability of the national agri-food system.