Spanish dairy producers are halting production as a four-day truckers’ protest over fuel prices started disrupting supply chains across the country.
The supply of goods needed to make dairy products has “been interrupted” by the protests, as has distribution to retail chains, dairy industry federation Fenil said in a statement Thursday. Supplies of fish, fruit and vegetables have been impacted by the demonstrations, according to local media reports.
Farmers, who are being impacted by high diesel and feed costs, are set to demonstrate March 20 in Madrid.
On Thursday, Transportation Minister Raquel Sanchez downplayed the importance of the protests, saying that it’s organized by small groups with ties to far-right political groups. She said the government has deployed 15,000 police to protect truckers not protesting and guarantee the distribution of goods.
Prime Minister Sanchez has pledged that his government will pass measures on March 29 to reduce soaring energy prices and mitigate inflation, already at its highest in close to 36 years.