Truckers' Strike Halts Buffalo Mozzarella Production in Southern Italy, €3 Million Lost in a Day
In southern Italy, truck drivers have been on strike for a week, which has caused buffalo mozzarella production to come to a standstill. An official stated that this disruption has led to a loss of around €3 million (or about US$3.37 million) in just one day. The main issue is that milk can't be transported to dairies near Naples, preventing the cheese from reaching customers. The drivers are protesting against rising diesel prices linked to the ongoing conflict in Iran. This strike has also created shortages of essential products in supermarkets and left many fuel stations empty. On Thursday, the government proposed new tax incentives for truckers, but it's unclear if this will end the strike, especially since buffalo mozzarella relies on a very specific supply chain.
Key facts
- Truckers' protest in southern Italy halted buffalo mozzarella production
- Estimated loss of €3 million (US$3.37 million) in 24 hours
- Milk cannot reach dairies in the Naples region and finished cheese cannot reach customers
- The week-long strike is over the high cost of diesel driven up by the Iran war
- Deliveries of other basic goods to supermarkets were also blocked
- Fuel pumps were left empty in much of southern Italy
- The government approved new tax breaks for truckers on Thursday
- Buffalo mozzarella production depends on a tightly timed supply chain due to its protected status
Entities
Locations
- Italy
- Naples
- Iran