Italian petroleum consumption contracted by 1.8% in September 2026 compared to the same month in the previous year, dropping to just over 4.3 million tonnes in working-day-adjusted market sales, according to data released by the Unione energie per la mobilità (Unem).
Crude Price Spikes and the Collapse in Diesel Demand
Network retail sales dropped 5%, while off-network deliveries fell 9.4%. When factoring in heating, agricultural, and marine grades, the total drop in diesel volume reached 169,000 tonnes, or 7.6%. For the first nine months of 2026, total diesel sales fell 4.9%, amounting to 36.9 million tonnes from January.
Unem attributes the slump directly to international price shocks stemming from the crisis of Hormuz, which pushed international diesel quotations up by roughly 16 euro cents per litre during September to hit historic highs, outstripping the 8-cent rise recorded for petrol. Industrial prices, net of taxes, remained 5 euro cents per litre below the eurozone average. This price surge compounded a broader inflationary wave that has seen pump prices rise significantly since the conflict began in early 2026, prompting motorists to curtail non-essential driving.
Petrol Reaches 16-Year Highs Amid Market Divergence
While diesel demand faltered, petrol consumption climbed by 4.9% in September, adding 39,000 tonnes to reach its highest volume for the month in 16 years, Unem reported. Over the first nine months of the year, petrol demand grew by 4.7% to total 7 million tonnes. Analysts point to a structural shift in private car fleets and company vehicle choices away from diesel options toward spark-ignition engines.
Consumer pump prices in September averaged 2.102 euros per litre for petrol—up 10.1 cents over the month—and 2.248 euros per litre for diesel, which absorbed a 14.7-cent increase as a temporary excise duty reduction began expiring on October 5.
Jet fuel and maritime bunkering reach record levels
Jet fuel consumption defied earlier supply fears by posting its fifth monthly increase, rising 3.9% in September to achieve a historic monthly record, adding 19,000 tonnes. Over the first nine months of 2026, aviation fuel demand grew by 3%, reaching an increase of 118,000 tonnes. Maritime bunkering also surged by 15.3% in September, adding 32,200 tonnes, propelled by high cruise ship traffic in Italian ports; looking at the first nine months, bunker supplies rose by 9.9%.
Bitumen consumption rose by 6.5%—and 5.1% over the nine-month period—due to ongoing road construction projects funded by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). Total petroleum product consumption across all sectors exceeded 4.7 million tonnes in September, marking a 1.9% decline year-on-year that was exacerbated by a 7.1% contraction in the petrochemical sector, which lost 6,000 tonnes in September and accounts for 68% of the drop seen since January.
Frequently Asked Questions About Italian Fuel Consumption
Why did diesel consumption drop so sharply in September 2026?
Motor diesel demand fell by 7.5%—representing a drop of 149,000 tonnes, with network sales down 65,000 tonnes and extra-network deliveries down 87,000 tonnes—because international quotations spiked by roughly 16 euro cents per litre during the month due to supply tensions originating from the crisis of Hormuz. This added to cumulative pump price increases that made driving significantly more expensive for motorists and commercial transport.
How much did average fuel prices increase at the pump?
In September 2026, average consumer prices reached 2.102 euros per litre for petrol—an increase of 10.1 cents from August—and 2.248 euros per litre for diesel, which rose by 14.7 cents partly due to the partial expiration of government excise cuts.
What sectors bucked the downward trend in petroleum products?
Petrol consumption reached its highest September volume in 16 years with a 4.9% increase, while jet fuel achieved a historic monthly record with a 3.9% rise. Maritime bunkering jumped by 15.3% and bitumen grew by 6.5% thanks to PNRR infrastructure projects, alongside a 0.7% hold in automotive LPG, while lubricants dropped by 14.2% marking five consecutive months of reduction.
What was the cumulative petroleum consumption for the first nine months of the year?
Total petroleum consumption from January to September 2026 reached 40.5 million tonnes, representing a 3.6% decrease compared to the same period in 2025, according to Unem data.
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