Fuel prices dip slightly as diesel tax discount halves from today
Italy's fuel prices showed a modest decline this morning, according to the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, but the relief at the pump is overshadowed by a fiscal change that takes effect today. The discount on accise — Italy's excise duty — for diesel has been cut in half, a move that will add roughly 3€ to the cost of a full tank.
The latest data from the Ministry's Fuel Price Observatory shows the average 'self service' price at 2.155€ per litre for petrol on the national road network, down fractionally from 2.156€ yesterday. Diesel held steady at 2.340€ per litre, unchanged from the previous day.
On the motorway network, prices remained elevated: the average self-service price for petrol was 2.245€ per litre, while diesel stood at 2.418€ per litre, both slightly lower than yesterday.
Tax change that hits diesel drivers
The steady prices mask a shifting fiscal landscape. A decree approved by the Council of Ministers on 16 September — published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale as D.L. n. 162/2026 — set out a staged reduction of the excise discount on diesel.
Until yesterday, the discount (including VAT) stood at 12.2 cents per litre. From today, 26 September, until 5 October, that discount is halved to 6.1 cents per litre. For a driver filling a 50-litre tank, the change translates to an increase of about 3€.
The measure forms part of a broader package that includes a tax credit extension for the road haulage sector through October and vehicle tax exemptions for 2027 for certain categories.
Year-on-year pressure on households
Consumer association Codacons highlighted the longer-term strain on budgets. Compared with the same period last year, diesel costs 43% more in Italy, meaning a full tank now costs over 35€ more than it did in September 2025. Petrol has risen by 26%, adding roughly 22.30€ to the cost of a full tank.
Codacons argued that the excise cuts are no longer a sufficient tool to restrain prices, calling for "extraordinary measures" to bring prices back to sustainable levels for families and businesses.
The association was commenting on a proposal from fuel retailers' federations Fegica and Faib Confesercenti to introduce an emergency price cap on petrol and diesel — a temporary ceiling applied without cost to public finances, based on pre-set criteria.
Eni introduces price ceiling
In a significant market intervention, Eni announced it will cap diesel prices at its stations. From 28 September, diesel will not exceed 2.19€ per litre for 30 days, with the possibility of an extension. The government described Eni's initiative as a "laudable act of attention to Italy" that moves in the direction of calming fuel costs.
Consumer groups including Adusbef, the Unione Nazionale Consumatori and Assoutenti welcomed Eni's move, with some suggesting it could trigger competitive pressure on other fuel retailers.
What changes from October
A further shift awaits drivers next month. From 6 October, the current system of fixed excise discounts ends. In its place, Italy will introduce "mobile excise" — a mechanism that links the discount to international oil price movements and the extra VAT revenue the state collects when prices rise.
The aim is to create an automatic, variable intervention that recycles fiscal windfalls from high prices into pump-price relief. However, the move also means fuel costs will become less predictable, as the state's intervention will fluctuate with the market.
Across the European Union, diesel prices have been pushed to record levels by high oil costs, refining pressures and supply disruptions linked to conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Italy's prices remain among the highest in the bloc, though countries including Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands have recorded even steeper rates.
For Italian residents, the immediate effect is clear: filling up with diesel from today costs more, and the next change comes in less than two weeks.
