The formula determining the annual toll price increase is outlined in decree-law no. 294/97, establishing that the rate is based on the year-over-year inflation rate excluding housing on the mainland for the latest available month before November 15.
This date is the deadline for concessionaires to communicate their price proposals to the government for the following year.
According to the final October inflation data released today by INE, the inflation benchmark stood at 2.19%.
An additional 0.1% is added, following a 2022 agreement between the government and highway concessionaires to compensate for a restriction imposed on a nearly 10% increase in 2023.
This agreement arose because, in 2022, the year-over-year inflation rate excluding housing exceeded 10%, prompting negotiations that kept the toll increase for 2023 at 4.9%.
At the time, the then Minister of Infrastructure, Pedro Nuno Santos, clarified that besides the 4.9% increase borne by highway users, a portion (2.8%) was covered by the state, with the remainder of “up to 9.5% or 10.5%” absorbed by the concessionaires.
As compensation for the 4.9% cap imposed in 2023, it was agreed that concessionaires could increase the toll rate adjustment by an additional 0.1% based on their concession contracts over the subsequent four years.
In 2024 and 2025, tolls also experienced an update exceeding 2%.
[Updated at 12:10]
