Following the latest price spike in agricultural diesel the Spanish Minister of Agriculture Luis Planas on 22 September 2026 in Madrid with the professional associations ASAJA, COAG and UPA to discuss short-term relief. The organisations say farms are at breaking point and have threatened nationwide protests. The background is also that temporary energy cost relief measures expire on 30 September 2026 and will not be renewed.
The Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) confirms the price rise in its latest weekly figures: the average price of agricultural diesel rose by 4.22 per cent in a week to €1.62 per litre. The associations estimate that they are paying around 48 per cent more than a year ago. They cite rising international crude oil prices and risk premiums resulting from the situation in the Middle East. The ministry points to an upward trend that has been noticeable for months and has accelerated recently.
For many farms, the wave of rising costs comes at a particularly demanding time: winter cereal sowing is beginning in several regions, while seed and other inputs are also being purchased. In addition to agricultural diesel, higher electricity and gas prices are weighing on production budgets. ASAJA, COAG and UPA are therefore calling for the support measures to be extended and expanded, and for clearer assurances for the autumn.
Government sources say the meeting was intended to assess the situation in the sector precisely and examine options for short-term, targeted measures. No specific commitments have been announced. Expanding direct subsidies would use up fiscal headroom and could prompt demands from other sectors. Observers therefore expect that any measures are more likely to be temporary and narrowly targeted, such as tax relief for activities that rely particularly heavily on diesel.
The consequences for consumers are unclear. Higher input costs may be passed on to retail prices along the food supply chain. However, there are currently no reliable data on direct effects on shop prices. What happens next will depend above all on international energy prices and political decisions in the coming weeks. One thing is clear: if agricultural diesel remains expensive and the support measures end without replacement, pressure on farms is likely to grow – as is the likelihood of further demonstrations.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).