Around 50 farmers mobilised near Lyon on Monday morning, blocking a TotalEnergies refinery in Feyzin and later moving along the A7 motorway toward the Rhône prefecture. The protest, organised by the Coordination Rurale (CR) union, targeted soaring fuel costs driven by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
By around 10 a.m., the convoy of about 20 tractors had reached La Mulatière and was heading toward Lyon’s Confluence district, causing significant traffic disruptions. The demonstration proceeded despite a prefectural order issued on Sunday banning any procession or march in the Feyzin and Édouard-Herriot port area, citing safety risks from flammable and hazardous materials near key hydrocarbon infrastructure.
Farmers Demand Urgent Relief
The CR union is calling for stronger government support, describing production costs as “exploding” and fuel and non-road diesel (GNR) prices as “unsustainable.” In a statement, the union said: “Production costs are higher than ever, and prices are not keeping pace.” It warned that farm incomes are under growing pressure, with many operations at risk of collapse.
Cédric Archer, co-president of Coordination Rurale Haute-Loire, told reporters: “We don’t want to die with our mouths open.” Mégane, a farmer from Côtes-d’Arey quoted by AFP, said the price of agricultural diesel had “almost doubled” since the start of the Middle East crisis. “We thought the government would support us more during the harvest and sowing seasons, when diesel use and tractor activity are at their peak,” she added.
The French government announced €20 million in emergency support on 21 April, including a temporary increase in the GNR rebate to 15 cents per litre throughout May, deferred social security and tax payments, a “flash fuel loan” for small and medium-sized farms, and the suspension of excise duties on tractor fuel in April. Agricultural diesel already benefits from preferential taxation costing the French state nearly €1 billion annually.
But farming unions argue these measures are insufficient. The FNSEA, France’s largest farming union, is calling for fuel aid of 30 cents per litre. The protests come amid broader economic strain across Europe, with rising energy costs affecting multiple sectors. The situation echoes tensions seen elsewhere, such as Cyprus tourism dropping 30-40% amid Middle East tensions, though recovery signs are emerging.
Meanwhile, global oil prices remain elevated due to the Iran conflict, as Shell profits double and European shares dip. The French farmers’ protest highlights the vulnerability of European agriculture to geopolitical shocks and the growing pressure on national governments to respond.
The Coordination Rurale has warned that further actions may follow if demands are not met, potentially spreading to other regions. The French government has yet to announce additional measures beyond the April package.
