Diesel prices are rising amid fears of a global economic crisis from the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Oil has already reached $139 a barrel, the highest level for 14 years. At the same time, diesel prices are also soaring reaching the level when it becomes “impossible to work”, say European carriers. “Besides fuel, many other things, like ferries, have increased in price. This cannot continue like this!”
Average diesel prices, including taxes and excise, have risen by 33% over the past 12 months across the 51 countries in all the regions tracked by IRU on a weekly basis.
In Germany, diesel prices reached €2.03 per liter on March 7. “There is a threat of bankruptcies in the German transport logistics industry,” says Dirk Engelhardt, spokesman for the board of the Federal Association of Road Haulage, Logistics and Disposal (BGL). Trade union representatives believe the increase in fuel price threatens transport system collapse in the country.
In Poland, “the average price of Pb95 gasoline was PLN 5.87 in the first week of March. One week later, on March 9, it was already PLN 6.86. This is an increase by almost 1 PLN in just seven days! The situation is much worse with diesel – the prices soared from PLN 5.92 to PLN 7.46, according to the report by e-petrol.pl <...> Self-sustainable transport companies left without government assistance will not survive these difficult times.” Carriers are asking the government for assistance.
In Lisbon, truckers are striking “For survival” – large carriers, not to mention small businesses, are facing bankruptcy due to the rapid rise in prices.
The Federation of Wholesale Distributors said that the higher transport costs would be passed on to customers – food shops and restaurants, who would pass this on to consumers.