The price of diesel has broken through to an all-time high in Italy, reaching 2.154 euros per litre. For the first time since March 2022, three areas (Calabria, Lombardy and the Province of Bolzano) have exceeded that critical threshold which until a few months ago seemed distant. And this is not an isolated episode: according to experts, the other Italian regions could also fall into line within a few days.
The previous record
To find a similar case you have to go back to March 14, 2022, in the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In that week, the average price of diesel in Italy reached 2.154 euros per litre. It was the only time in recent history in which it exceeded 2.1 euros, until the intervention of the Draghi government, which introduced a cut in excise duties equal to 30.5 cents per litre, bringing prices back below the two euro threshold.
Four years later, the situation returns to similar levels. According to the findings of the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy on April 4, some areas have already surpassed that record:
- Calabria with 2.169 euros per litre;
- Lombardy with 2.157 euros per litre;
- Bolzano always at 2.157 euros per litre.
On the motorway network, however, there is a reversal of the trend: for the first time the prices charged outside the motorways are higher, as underlined by Massimiliano Dona, president of the National Consumers Union.
Today’s prices
According to data updated to 6 April 2026, this is the ranking of the regions by average diesel price:
- Bolzano — €2.134/litre;
- Calabria — €2.116/litre;
- Friuli Venezia Giulia — €2.113/litre;
- Trento — €2.112/litre;
- Lombardy — €2.108/litre;
- Liguria — €2.108/litre;
- Puglia — €2.104/litre;
Valle d’Aosta — €2.104/litre; - Basilicata — €2.102/litre;
- Piedmont — €2,100/litre;
- Emilia Romagna — €2.099/litre;
- Sardinia — €2,099/litre;
- Molise — €2.094/litre;
- Tuscany — €2.094/litre;
- Sicily — €2.092/litre;
- Veneto — €2.091/litre;
- Umbria — €2.087/litre;
- Abruzzo — €2.086/litre;
- Marche — €2.086/litre;
- Campania — €2.084/litre
- Lazio — €2.082/litre;
Oil over 110 dollars
The main cause of the increases is the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime passage through which a significant share of the world’s oil transits. As the crisis in Iran continued, Brent prices stabilized above 100 dollars a barrel, reaching today 113 dollars.
This is a factor that is directly reflected in prices at the pump: diesel comes from the refining of crude oil, so any increase in Brent almost automatically affects costs for consumers.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni underlined the need to reopen the Strait during recent talks in the Gulf countries. The Trump administration has also increased pressure on Iran, firmly demanding the reopening of the passage.
Cutting excise duties
The Meloni government has extended the cut in excise duties on fuel, equal to 24.4 cents per litre, until May 1st. A measure that would otherwise have exhausted its effects in the next few days. The measure helps to contain price increases, but is not enough to offset the increase in oil prices.
In recent days, Massimiliano Dona commented:
Diesel has exceeded 2.1 euros per liter throughout Italy. Unfortunately, we were the only ones to ask for a cut in excise duties that varied between petrol and diesel. We were left unheard.
