As the fuel market crisis intensifies across the EU, IRU has urged its transport ministers to take immediate and coordinated EU-level action to keep supply chains moving and protect people’s mobility.
In a letter to EU transport ministers, IRU has called for immediate and coordinated action to address escalating fuel market disruptions affecting the road transport sector.
IRU warns that growing market volatility and supply pressures are already translating into extraordinarily high fuel prices and concrete operational distortions on the ground. This means increasing risks for the continuity of road transport operations across the EU if the crisis continues.
IRU EU Director Raluca Marian said, “Road transport is both highly exposed to fuel price shocks and indispensable to the EU’s economy and society. Without swift and coordinated action, there is a real risk of serious disruption to supply chains and people’s mobility across the Union.
“At a time of acute crisis, road transport must not be treated as a secondary effect of energy policy, but as a strategic sector requiring dedicated attention and coordinated EU action. Transport ministers must act together, now.”
Fuel prices in road transport have increased by 30–35% across the EU since the onset of the crisis, creating a severe shock for a sector made up of over one million operators, predominantly SMEs. Heavy-duty vehicles alone consume around 6.8 billion litres of diesel per month across the EU.
The impact is particularly strong given the structure of the sector. Fuel represents around one third of operating costs, while many companies operate on margins between 1% and 3%, leaving virtually no buffer to absorb sudden increases.
At the same time, supply distortions are emerging across key transport corridors, including delayed deliveries, restricted access to fuel and cross-border imbalances. Phenomena such as “tank tourism” are exacerbating local shortages and undermining national support measures.
IRU warns that, given the cross-border nature of transport operations, uncoordinated national responses risk further fragmenting the internal market and disrupting European supply chains.
The letter calls for an urgent Transport Council meeting to address the evolving situation and enable coordinated action at EU level.
IRU has proposed targeted measures for discussion, including a contingency plan to safeguard essential logistics flows and mobility, tackling sudden surges in demand and cross border issues, an EU crisis support framework to include increased state aid de minimis ceilings, and an EU fund to support companies in difficulties.