Trucking and Farmer Protests Disrupting European Logistics

Truckers, and especially farmers, have been staging protests around Europe during recent weeks, which has started to disrupt some logistics routes on the continent.

French farmers blocked the main route linking France with Spain on Friday with a demonstration at the border. This forms part of nationwide protests that have included rolling blockades in response to efforts by supermarkets to force down prices, along with European Union bureaucracy.

Protests have also spread across much of Germany, with both truckers and farmers angry at the phasing out of tax breaks on agricultural diesel, which they suggest will lead them to bankruptcy.

Across Europe, there is discontent over the revamping of EU policies. The agricultural sector is suspicious of the EU's plans to review and make the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) more sustainable. Over 70% of the funds are currently spent on direct payments to farmers as a safety net.

Romanian farmers and hauliers took to the highways with tractors and trucks to block their main roads last week. They are protesting against the high price of diesel, insurance rates and EU measures, as well as competition from Ukrainian drivers.

Polish farmers also staged nationwide demonstrations last week against Ukrainian agricultural imports, while truckers continue to block some borders in protest against Ukrainian competition.

If the situation continues to escalate, then the ongoing roadblocks and disruption will become more likely to result in knock-on delays in the delivery of goods on some European routes. Croft Cargo's Road Freight team are monitoring the situation closely.

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