Price caps take effect at Eni and IP pumps, but pressure mounts across the sector
Motorists filling up at Eni and IP stations are seeing lower prices from today, but the relief is partial and the strain on families, hauliers and independent forecourt operators remains acute. Queues formed at petrol stations in Naples, Florence and Rome on the first day of the price caps, with some pumps running dry as demand surged.
The caps set petrol at 1,99 euro per litre and diesel at 2,19 euro per litre. Eni has applied the limits across its network. IP, controlled by Azerbaijan's Socar, has started with roughly 300 stations and aims to extend the measure gradually. Together, the price-controlled network covers about 4,100 of Italy's 20,000 petrol stations.
What drivers save
The consumer group Adusbef, using data from the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (Mimit), calculates that a full tank of diesel now costs 9,35 euro less, while a petrol fill-up saves 8,45 euro. A two-car household could save around 80 euro per month, according to the Unimpresa study centre.
Savings vary by region. In Bolzano, where diesel was trading at 2,428 euro per litre, the saving on a full tank reaches almost 12 euro. In Valle d'Aosta and Friuli Venezia Giulia, diesel savings are around 10,50 euro per tank. By Mimit's daily survey, the average self-service price on the national road network fell to 2,152 euro for petrol (down from 2,159 euro) and 2,369 euro for diesel (down from 2,377 euro). On motorways, the drop was sharper: petrol fell to 2,214 euro and diesel to 2,420 euro.
Long way above February levels
The CGIA research office in Mestre welcomes the discounts but warns that prices remain far above pre-crisis levels. Compared with 27 February — the day before the United States–Iran conflict began — anyone filling up at Eni stations still pays 19,2% more for petrol and 27,3% more for diesel.
For households, commuters and several economic sectors, these increases threaten financial stability. The difference with other companies is starker: on the national self-service network, fuel from other suppliers is up roughly 29% for petrol and 36% for diesel from February levels. CGIA has called for Brussels to allow member states greater flexibility on public accounts so they can reduce the fiscal components of pump prices, as happened in 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Who bears the cost
Taxi drivers, commercial agents and hauliers are hit hardest. Taxi drivers and commercial agents cannot pass higher costs on to customers and absorb the increase in full. Hauliers can sometimes pass on costs and use a tax credit designed to offset expensive fuel, but the credit excludes operators of heavy vehicles under 7,5 tonnes — about 40% of Italy's road transport businesses.
Taxi unions say the situation has become "unsustainable" and are ready to strike if the government does not respond to their request for talks. The Sicilian Road Transport Committee has called a five-day stoppage starting 16 October.
Calls to extend the cap
Industry bodies are pressing for wider action. Assopetroli-Assoenergia has asked the government to open an immediate discussion with the whole distribution chain to extend the price caps to wholesale sales, so families and businesses not served by Eni or IP can benefit.
The CISL secretary general, Daniela Fumarola, says voluntary commitments cover fewer than four in ten stations, are temporary and can be revised at any time. She wants a stable rule that triggers a dynamic price cap automatically when pump prices rise beyond what market fundamentals justify. Trade associations Faib Confesercenti and Fegica have presented a similar proposal in Parliament, pointing to mechanisms already in use in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
Squeeze on independent operators
Independent forecourt operators warn that the caps could drive them out of business. The president of Figisc Confcommercio, Bruno Bearzi, says managers who bought fuel at higher prices now have to sell it at capped prices, incurring significant losses on existing stock. Figisc is seeking urgent talks with the government on compensation and has raised the prospect of a complaint to the Antitrust authority over alleged abuse of dominant position and unfair competition.
Eni has offered some compensation to managers on its network, but industry groups say the measures are not enough to protect the whole supply chain. Bearzi added that some stations had already run out of fuel due to the rush, though whether this becomes a logistical problem remains to be seen in the coming days.
Political and market reaction
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanked Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Socar's President Rovshan Najaf for IP's decision, calling it an "important signal" and pledging that the government will continue to support families. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, also deputy prime minister, said the moves showed voluntary contributions can work without state-imposed mandates.
On the stock market, Eni shares rose 1,52% to 24,45 euro on the first day of the price caps, buoyed by a rally in crude oil and gas prices. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 2% to 94,25 dollars per barrel, while Brent crude rose 2,27% to 106,7 dollars.
The government is also sounding out Kuwait's Q8 group on a possible price cap, but no agreement has been reached. For now, the relief is real but limited — and for many operators, the pressure continues.
