Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544529
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 APRIL 2026 NEWS EVA BRANNON ebrannon@mediatoday.com.mt Sicilian fishers threaten to swap Italian flag with Maltese over high diesel prices SICILIAN and Calabrian fishers are mulling whether to block- ade the Strait of Messina on 1 May to protest against high die- sel prices that are causing eco- nomic hardship. The federation representing Sicilian fishing boat owners (Fas) and the association of professional fishers on Monday called on the Italian govern- ment to cap diesel prices, which on average have soared above €2 per litre at the pump as a re- sult of the Iran war. The two organisations are to decide whether to blockade the busy Strait of Messina with fish- ing boats on Workers' Day in protest over high diesel prices. Regional media reports state that some fishers are also threat- ening to ditch the Italian flag and register their boats with the Maltese or Tunisian authorities unless their demands are met. The price of fuel and energy in Malta have remained stable as a result of government subsidies, which were retained since they were first introduced in 2022 at the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Diesel sold at the pump retails at €1.21 in Malta. However, Maltese fishers ben- efit from additional subsidies depending on the size of the fish catches they land at the fish market (pixkerija). Diesel is the largest cost component for fish- ers. Sicilian and Calabrian fishers said the rising price of diesel could lead to mass redundan- cies in the sector, the sale of fishing boats and at an extreme, even the complete demolition of such boats. They are demanding that Giorgia Meloni's government live up to its electoral commit- ment to support traditional in- dustries. KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Sicilian and Calabrian fishers are planning to block the Strait of Messina on 1 May in protest over rising diesel prices (Photo: L'Adige) Rising fuel costs, corridor disruptions threaten Malta's supply chain: trailer operator association THE Association of Maltese In- ternational Trailer Operators (ATTO) on Tuesday voiced its concern on Malta's structural exposure as a fully import-de- pendent economy after observ- ing intensifying strains across European fuel routes. "With no overland alterna- tives, Malta is entirely de- pendent on the reliability of European transport corridors," ATTO Chairman Joseph Buge- ja said. "Any sustained disrup- tion, whether it's cost-driven or physical, can rapidly impact economic stability." ATTO warned that while do- mestic fuel pricing measures offer partial insulation, Malta remains exposed to external corridor volatility, as most fuel uplift occurs outside the coun- try. This comes after the US-Is- raeli war on Iran has choked global oil supply by shutting down the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is one of the most important trade routes in the world and has now been closed for 48 days. Around 20 per cent of the world's oil passes through it, along with rough- ly one third of global fertiliser trade. In a statement released on Tuesday, Bugeja explained that early signs of disruption are becoming evident, noting emerging pressures in Italy's road haulage sector, which uses trucks to transport 80% of the country's goods. Around 20% of Malta's total imports come from Italy, mak- ing it Malta's primary supplier. The statement mentioned that the Italian government has introduced tax reductions and tax credits for transport oper- ators in an effort to ease rising pressures on the haulage sec- tor. However, it continued to elaborate that industry feed- back suggests that these meas- ures are not keeping up with persisting cost increases. Concorde CEO Jonathan Vella noted that cost inflation across EU transport corridors remains severe, with diesel prices up by approximately 35% over three months. ATTO reported that road haulage operators have re- ported persisting diesel price inflation, with Italian prices rising above €2 per litre, trig- gering price hikes of €80 mil- lion across the regional trailer and freight industry. Accounting for around 40% of operating costs, diesel is now placing "extreme pressure" on profit margins. GMC Transport reported fu- el cost increases of up to 30% over the last few months, with around a 40% reduction in profit margins, forcing urgent rate reassessments in client contracts. Associations are also raising concerns that recent diesel price escalations may be driven by speculative pricing dynam- ics, which allow prices to be determined by expected future price movements rather than underlying fundamentals. The associations explained that this amplifies market vola- tility and has intensified finan- cial strain across the industry, adding that uneven price trans- mission, driven by differing European tax regimes, has in- tensified these rapid price fluc- tuations. Express Trailers Director An- toine Vella said that the com- pany has not yet experienced systemic failures, but drives have begun to encounter sta- tions with limited availability. "The uncertainty in the cur- rent environment could have significant implications for Malta's logistics chain," Vella said, explaining that market volatility is increasingly affect- ing planning and network reli- ability. Surging operating costs and extended 60–90 day payment terms are pushing Italian trans- port companies toward con- tract renegotiations, service cuts, and potential operational disruption. The association concluded by pledging that it will continue to monitor developments closely and engage stakeholders where necessary to safeguard supply chain continuity. GMC Transport reported fuel cost increases of up to 30% (Photo: Association of Maltese International Trailer Operators)