Petrol on sale in San Marino, Italians queuing up for a 20 euro discount – Corriere.it

It may also be a world heritage site, but in these first days of 2023 San Marino attracts a large number of Italians due to the price of fuel at service stations: you save between 15 and 20 euros for a full tank. And the first queues are already forming. Gasoline and diesel have always been cheaper under Monte Titano. But since the first of the year, also thanks to the Italian government’s desire not to reconfirm the cut in excise duties, the gap between the two countries has really widened.

Prices between 1.45 and 1.55 per litre

According to Staffetta Quotidiana, the average self-service petrol this morning in Italy exceeds 1.8 euro/litre, diesel soars towards 1.87, while in served petrol it is sold at 1.95 euro/litre and exceeds 2 euro for diesel. In principle, the price of petrol and diesel rose by about 20 cents compared to the end of the year. It is therefore not surprising that there are those who are ready to travel even a few dozen kilometres, perhaps from Rimini, Riccione or Sant’Arcangelo di Romagna, to cross the border and arrive at the San Marino pumps where the price ranges from 1.45 to 1.55 euros per litre. One could almost speak of sales, also considering the period of the year. And it is probable that the queues will increase as the “Italian” cars run out of the last tank of 2022.

The crux of taxation

To weigh the different taxation, as well as the additional discount of 10 cents guaranteed by the Smac Card, accessible to all, or a sort of electronic ATM recognized in the territory of the Republic of San Marino by economic operators, specifically affiliated with San Marino credit institutions, for the execution of discount top-up operations, payment and telematic certification of the purchase.

Cut excise duties at least for a month

Thus the Secretary (minister) of San Marino Industry, Fabio Righi: We have statistics relating to new companies, imports and exports that record numbers higher than 2019, pre-Covid. Important numbers from economic development, certainly not from recession. This is why we have decided to extend the cut in excise duties to 31 January. It is a concrete and immediately tangible aid to the business world, which is driving our economy. We will have to work to not remove this support because it would mean increasing price increases in a growing context.

The diversion of trucks

Many hauliers also deviate from their route to change state and treat themselves to a full tank. A great help, then, for the approximately six thousand cross-border commuters, mostly Italians, who cross the borders every day to go to work in San Marino. Who probably won’t toast are the Italian service stations bordering the Titano, which risk being completely snubbed.