This move marks the beginning of a process to equalise excise duties on diesel and petrol in Italy, which is expected to result in both fuels being taxed at the same rate. In practice, this means that diesel duty is being increased while petrol duty is being lowered. The first step was taken by the interministerial decree published in the Official Gazette number 110 on 14 May, which from the following day raised diesel excise duty by 1.5 cents per litre and cut petrol duty by the same amount.
As a result, the excise duty on diesel has risen from 61.74 to 63.24 cents per litre, equivalent to an increase from 617.40 to 632.40 euros per thousand litres. The decree excludes biodiesel and paraffinic diesel fuels produced through synthesis or hydroprocessing (such as HVO), which will continue to be taxed at 61.74 cents per litre throughout the entire five-year rebalancing period. The increase in diesel duty, including fossil diesel, does not apply to industrial vehicles with a total weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes powered by Euro V or Euro VI engines, which will continue to benefit from the reduced rate of 403.22 euros per thousand litres.
It is important to note that the exemption from the diesel duty increase applies only to a portion of road hauliers, as fuel used in industrial vehicles with a total weight equal to or less than 7.4 tonnes (such as those used for last-mile delivery) is subject to the higher rate. The same applies to vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes but fitted with engines up to and including Euro IV.
