Italian retailers warn of food shortages caused by truck drivers' protest
Retailers said perishable goods are stranded on trucks and in warehouses as blockades spread across southern Italy and pressure the government for relief.
- Truckers in Sicily and Southern Italy staged blockades of roads, motorways, and ports this week, protesting surging diesel and operating costs. The disruptions halted deliveries to supermarkets and factories, causing widespread shortages.
- Diesel prices have risen "more than 50 cents a litre" since the Iran war began, compounded by broader operating costs that hauliers say the government has neglected. These financial pressures make transport businesses increasingly unsustainable.
- Major pasta producers Rummo and La Molisana suspended operations after depleting raw material stocks, while supermarkets in Naples reported empty fruit and vegetable displays. This supply chain breakdown threatens Italy's food manufacturing capacity.
- Transport Minister Matteo Salvini met with trucking associations on Tuesday to discuss demands, while Deputy Infrastructure Minister Edoardo Rixi announced a package worth "more than €150 million" to help hauliers cope. Protests remain ongoing despite these pledges.
- Sicily's hauliers committee warned that blockades could persist until October 27 if negotiations fail to secure lasting agreements. Even after restrictions end, distribution centres will require time to clear backlogs and restore normal deliveries.
339 Articles
339 Articles
Truck drivers ended a week of protests that have paralyzed southern Italy on Friday, with the last pickets in the Campania region ending, allowing supermarkets to be supplied with goods again.
Truckers' protests in Italy have disrupted the supply chain; fruits, vegetables, and basic food items are running out in supermarkets, and there is a risk of fuel shortages at 7 airports. Wizz Air has warned passengers of possible flight disruptions. If the protests continue, daily life and air travel in Italy could be affected.
Truck blockades in anger over rising fuel prices are causing shortages in stores and fuel at airports. EU energy ministers are to discuss how to save on expensive energy.
The sixth day of strike by truckers against high fuel prices paralyzes southern Italy, leaving gondolas empty in supermarkets, fuelless airports and the suspension of postal services.
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