The lorry blockades against high diesel prices spread over the weekend and into Monday morning to further parts of southern Italy. The first supermarkets are reporting shortages of fresh produce, and in Sicilia bus services are facing cuts. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini has brought forward the meeting with the trade associations, which had originally been planned for 27 October. It will take place on meeting Tuesday Tuesday, 20 October, at 3 p.m. at the Prefettura in Milan. The end of the strike is scheduled for midnight on the same day.
Blockades in four regions
In Calabria around fifteen protest pickets remain in place. The A2 exit at Falerna (Province of Catanzaro) was temporarily blocked on Sunday afternoon. Further locations include the SS 534 between Firmo and Sibari, the SS 106 near Cassano, the Pollino area, the Sibaritide and the Alto Jonio Cosentino. A central protest post is situated in Contrada Bianchino near Castrovillari. In Campania, queues on the A1 on Monday morning stretched from Caserta to Naples, while a section of the A30 was closed overnight.
In Apulia, around 100 lorry drivers drove from Altamura to Bari on Monday morning to demand a meeting with Regional President Antonio Decaro at the regional headquarters. On the provincial road SP 231 near Bari , farmers and hauliers, together with students, are blocking the route. In Sicily, the blockade has been partially easedsince Monday, with fruit and vegetable consignments being allowed through again. In Palermo, long queues formed nonetheless at petrol stations still holding available fuel.
Diesel approaching €2.30, stocks in the south declining
According to the Ministry for Enterprise and Made in Italy, the average diesel price is approaching €2.30 per litre. The consumer association Codacons reports a rise of nearly 40 per cent compared to the same period in 2025. Many petrol stations in Puglia are empty, and restocking is not expected between Monday and Tuesday given the current situation. Behind this is also the expiry of the price cap on 5 October, which immediately raised the price by around three euros per tank of fuel .
According to the industry, supermarket stocks will last only until Monday evening, though panic buying has not been reported so far. The goods most at risk are fruit, vegetables, milk and meat. Medicines are exempt from the blockade and continue to be delivered. In Sicily, the trade association Anav Sicilia has warned that bus services could be reduced from Tuesday if depots are not resupplied. The remaining diesel is then to be concentrated on main routes during peak hours .
Salvini meeting brought forward to Tuesday
The meeting convened by the transport ministry for 27 October was initially considered sufficient by the government. Following the expansion of protests over the weekend and pressure from the umbrella organisation Unatras under president Paolo Uggè, Minister Salvini has now brought the meeting forward to Tuesday, 20 October, at 15:00, at the Prefecture of Milan. Also at the table will be the autonomous associations from Calabria, Sicily and Puglia, as well as Deputy Minister Edoardo Rixi. Whether the strike continues will depend on the outcome.
Part of the wave of protest has already subsided. The blockade of the Eni refinery in Taranto by former Ilva workers was lifted on Friday evening, with the five-day strike ending at 23:00. For the lorry protest pickets in southern Italy, a resolution has yet to be reached. October remains a difficult month for the transport sector. On 30 October, the national general strike called by Usi Cit is also on the calendar, with transport explicitly excluded from its scope.
