Iran claims to have blocked three ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the route is closed to vessels traveling to and from ports linked to its 'enemies'. In Portugal, the Government announced it will maintain the current extraordinary and temporary ISP tax discount. We are updating all information regarding the conflict here.
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Context & Explainers
The ISP (Imposto sobre Produtos Petrolíferos e Energéticos) is Portugal's excise tax on petroleum and energy products, charged as a fixed amount per liter on petrol, diesel, and other fuels. It is one of the main components of fuel prices at the pump, alongside VAT and the carbon tax (Taxa de Carbono).
The government can adjust ISP rates — temporarily or permanently — to influence fuel prices. Rate cuts are a common policy tool to ease cost-of-living pressures on drivers and transport businesses, though they also reduce government revenue.
For consumers, the ISP is significant because even small changes in the per-liter rate translate into noticeable differences at the pump, particularly for diesel users and commercial transport operators.
