Millions in cheese revenue lost as protest hits Italy’s buffalo mozzarella output

A protest by truck drivers in southern Italy has halted the production of buffalo mozzarella, resulting in an estimated loss of €3 million in just one day, according to an official. The strike, driven by the high cost of diesel fuel exacerbated by the Iran war, has also disrupted the delivery of essential goods to supermarkets and left fuel pumps empty in much of southern Italy.

The government introduced new tax breaks for truckers on Thursday, but it remains unclear if the measures will end the protest. Buffalo mozzarella, a protected cheese, relies on a tightly timed supply chain, with buffaloes needing to be milked regardless of dairy operations, and milk must be transformed into mozzarella within 60 hours.

On Wednesday, 1 million liters of buffalo milk produced could not be converted into mozzarella due to the transportation blockage. The Consortium for the Protection of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP, which oversees production standards and protects the cheese's designation of origin, reported that no mozzarella was produced yesterday, causing panic among farmers about where to store the fresh milk.

Several dairies have closed due to the inability to accumulate a highly perishable product without delivery. The Italian government approved new financial aid to truckers and farmers totaling €540 million in tax credits, up from €434 million, in an effort to address the higher fuel costs. However, the disruption is particularly damaging to buffalo mozzarella as production relies on a precise supply chain, and buffaloes must be milked regardless of dairy status.

Moreover, the transport blockade is straining supplies of animal feed and diesel needed for farm operations, causing further complications for the affected farmers and producers.