NAPLES, Italy — While U.S. motorists in Italy will pay the same in November as in October for fuel coupons, they’ll be paying about 50 cents more per gallon than their counterparts in Germany.
The retail price for a 100-liter gasoline booklet remains at $76, and $86 for diesel in Italy, which tallies $2.88 at the pump for the unleaded gasoline.
On Thursday, the Army and Air Force Exchange Serve announced a larger-than-anticipated drop in their fuel prices, which brings the price of unleaded gas in Germany to $2.38.
“Each country has its own agreement when it comes to determining fuel prices, and the program in Italy cannot be compared with the prices for fuel in Germany,” said Bart Di Muccio, administrator of the tax-free products program for all of Italy.
“I cannot hazard a guess as to why the fuel in Germany is more or less than Italy.”
Each month, the Naples office sets prices for fuel coupons by calculating changes in the barrel price of fuel, fluctuations in the currency exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the euro, and any gains or losses the Navy Exchange incurs the month before, he said.
The Italian government grants U.S. and NATO personnel roughly $70 million a year in tax exemptions, of which roughly $65 million is for fuel, Di Muccio said.
The rest are exemptions for tobacco and alcohol products.
Noting the disparity from one country to the next, the U.S. military might want to consider standardizing the process, so servicemembers overseas pay the same amount for comparable fuel, no matter where they might be stationed, said Chief Petty Officer Zeke Sanchez, stationed at Naval Support Activity Naples.
“I do take notice, and wonder why AAFES and NEX have a different way of determining the price,” he said.
“I think a centralized price should be fixed for all of Europe. However, I would prefer a service station on all bases as well. So, I have to manage with what I have offered to me, and just keep enjoying my tour here in Italy.”
There are no on-base fuel stations in Italy, meaning motorists fill up by redeeming coupons at any Esso or Agip stations on the economy.
Fuel coupon prices then and now
A look at fuel coupon prices for the previous 11 months in Italy:Fuel coupon prices then and now
A look at fuel coupon prices for the previous 11 months in Italy:
100-liter booklet of unleaded gas Diesel
January $70 $78
February $70 $78
March $68 $76
April $68 $76
May $70 $78
June $79 $85
July $79 $85
August $84 $87
September $88 $88
October $76 $86
November $76 $86
Source: Tax-free Products Program Office
