Rising fuel prices threaten 6,000 transport companies in the province of Alicante

More than 6,000 transport and logistics firms in the province of Alicante face serious operational risks following a continuous surge in fuel prices. The sector’s difficult circumstances have persisted since the onset of the war in Ukraine in 2022, and the situation has now been further aggravated by the impact of the conflict in Iran. The ongoing rise in fuel costs extends past the transport sector, threatening to increase overall industrial costs and undermine the broader economic competitiveness of the province.

The Alicante Provincial Transport Federation (Fetrama) has issued a warning regarding the situation, calling on government authorities and regional administrations to introduce new measures to curb escalating prices. The president of Fetrama, Antonio Marco, stated that existing mechanisms, including price review clauses and the 20-cent-per-litre discount, are becoming inadequate to meet the current challenge.

Furthermore, Marco highlighted the pressure placed on business liquidity by existing tax relief schemes tied to the hydrocarbon tax. He noted that small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly affected because they must pay heavy costs up front and wait through long government repayment cycles to recover funds.

To address the volatility in fuel prices, Fetrama is urging official agencies to accelerate the distribution of financial aid and to build exceptional support systems capable of responding rapidly to market shifts. Marco stated that creating flexible support mechanisms would protect the stability of the sector, benefiting both transport businesses and their workforce. He also stressed that transport should be formally recognised as an essential and strategic industry, calling for targeted adjustments to taxation, regulatory burdens, sustainability requirements, and digital adaptation costs that currently lack adequate official support.