War in Iran: Information hub

Impact on EU road transport: latest indicators

Fuel prices

+29%

diesel increase across EU

Direct margin compression for all operators

Transport costs

+8%

spot rate increases already observed

Smaller operators at insolvency risk

Supply chain

30–50%

maritime rate surge

Intra-EU sourcing may boost road freight

Energy & industry

2 yrs

of freight contraction

AdBlue costs rising (gas-dependent)

Inflation & economy

9.2%

peak inflation reference

Weaker purchasing power → less freight demand

Trade rerouting

nearshoring potential

May boost intra-EU corridors over time

How governments can help

To ease the impact on transport operators providing critical services to communities and businesses across the region, governments should:

Release oil reserves to help stabilise fuel prices
Reduce fuel taxes, which often represent a large share of the pump price
Facilitate driver visas to allow foreign drivers to transit countries more easily
Open borders without requiring trailer body swaps, simplifying operations and lowering transport costs

National responses to the energy crisis

Fuel prices actions of governments per country
Country	Shortages	Measures	Crude oil release (million barrels)
Albania	None	20% reduction Margin control for LEK 12/L
Australia	Temporary	50% reduction from 1 April to 30 June Road toll removed for trucks from 1 April to 30 June
Austria	None	Reduction by 0.05 EUR, starting 1 April until 31 December 2026. (coming) no more than 3 increases per week + margin control for - EUR 0.05/L
Bosnia and Herzegovina	None	10% reduction for businesses as of 25 March
Croatia	None	New excise value to be announced this week, EUR 0.16/L refund from 1 April to 31 March. Margin cap for distributors.
Denmark	None		1.26
France	None	Task force to monitor price development EUR 50 million for SME for April 2026	14.5
Greece	None	Subside at the pump for diesel until 31 May. Margin cap for refinery and retailer, at EUR 0.05 and EUR 0.12 respectively
Germany	None	Task force to monitor price development As of 1 April, no more than one increase per day	19.7
Hungary	Temporary	Reduction to EU minimal level until 1 May Fuel price capped HUF 615, only for Hungarian trucks
Ireland	None	Scheme rising from 7.5 cent to 12 cent per litre for the first half of 2026.	1.6
Italy	None	Reduction by EUR 0.2 for 20 days Task force to monitor price development
Norh Macedonia	None	VAT from 18 to 10%, until 6 April
Montenegro	None	50% reduction as of 26 March
Poland	None	Specific price levels to be set by Ministerial Regulation (rozporządzenie). Fines up to PLN 1M for violations. VAT from 23% to 8%, until 30 June
Portugal	None	Refund scheme cancelled any benefit for transport operators / Third consecutive reduction (0.32607, then 0.31163, then 0.28537)
Romania	None	Refund of EUR 0.17/L from 1 April to 31 December Margin cam for distributors
Serbia	None	61% reduction from 26 March to 2 April Export ban until 2 April
Slovakia	Temporary	Price capped at EUR 1.826 from 23 March, max EUR 400 per vehicle per filling.
Slovenia	Temporary		30
Spain	None	Refund scheme cancelled any benefit for transport operators TVA from 21% to 10%, until 30 June
Sweden	None	To be voted in April
United Kingdom	None	Reduction maintained