The formula for calculating the annual toll price increase is outlined in decree-law no. 294/97, which states that the annual variation is based on the mainland inflation rate excluding housing, as observed in the latest available data before November 15.
This date is the deadline for concessionaires to submit their pricing proposals to the government for the upcoming year.
According to today’s provisional data from INE, this reference inflation rate was at 2.2%. The final figure will be announced by INE on November 12.
This figure is increased by 0.1%, following the 2022 agreement between the government and highway concessionaires, compensating them for the cap imposed on a nearly 10% rise in 2023.
In 2022, the year-on-year price increase, excluding housing, exceeded 10%, leading the government to negotiate a solution with concessionaires that limited the toll increase in 2023 to 4.9%.
At the time, then Minister of Infrastructure, Pedro Nuno Santos, clarified that beyond the 4.9% borne by highway users, a portion (2.8%) was covered by the State, with the remainder “up to 9.5% or 10.5%” absorbed by the concessionaires.
As compensation for the 4.9% cap imposed in 2023, it was established that concessionaires could, over the next four years, add an additional 0.1% to the toll update value as per their contracts.
In 2024 and 2025, tolls also saw an increase exceeding 2%.
