The logistics employers' association UNO Logística has raised its tone against the Government by considering the “clearly insufficient” measures approved within the Comprehensive Plan of Response to the crisis in the Middle East, included in the BOE published this Saturday. The sector denounces that the aid is not commensurate with the impact that the increase in diesel prices is causing in road transport and demands a new urgent support package.
The president of the organization, Francisco Aranda, has announced that will request the immediate implementation of an additional shock plan to complement the current measures. “The dimension of this plan does not correspond to the seriousness of the situation”, he pointed out, warning that, without new actions, “companies will start to disappear, putting the supply chain at risk”.
Among the approved measures, the Executive contemplates a direct aid of 0.20 euros per liter of diesel until June 30, 2026. However, from the employers' association, they consider it a temporary relief that does not compensate for the structural increase in costs that companies have been dragging since the beginning of the conflict in Iran. Furthermore, they recall that these aids are lower than those applied during the War in Ukraine, both in amount and duration.
The viability of companies, in danger
Especially critical is the situation of transporters who cannot benefit from professional diesel. The foreseen compensations -1,800 euros per gas truck, 665 euros per heavy truck and 300 euros per light vehicle- cover only a minimal part of the monthly extra cost borne by self-employed workers, SMEs and logistics operators.
The plan also includes financing measures, such as a line of re-guarantees of up to 2,000 million euros to facilitate access to credit for fuel purchases. However, the sector warns that this tool only allows maintaining activity, but does not reduce costs or fuel prices, and is also temporary.
“These measures only allow gaining some time, but do not guarantee the viability of companies”, insist from the employers' association, which warns that many companies continue operating with losses in a context of strong cost pressure.ç
A crisis superior to that of 2022
Aranda emphasizes that the sector is not facing a one-off increase, but a structural crisis even more severe than the one experienced in 2022. “The price of fuel is escalating much faster than then, which is putting the sustainability of many companies at risk,” he stated.
The logistics sector, which represents close to 8% of GDP and employs more than a million people, warns that the lack of more ambitious measures could have a chain effect on the economy as a whole, affecting the supply and distribution of goods throughout the country.