Brace Yourself for More Fuel Price Hikes

Preliminary data is pointing toward a substantial fuel price hike on Wednesday, 4 November 2026 (taking effect at midnight on Tuesday, 3 November).

What the Early Data Shows

Early mid-month projections from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) indicate significant under-recoveries across all fuel grades:

• Petrol 93 Unleaded: Projected increase of ~R4.29 per litre.
• Petrol 95 Unleaded: Projected increase of ~R4.58 per litre.
• Diesel 0.05% (500ppm): Projected increase of ~R2.56 per litre.
• Diesel 0.005% (50ppm): Projected increase of ~R2.91 per litre.

If these figures hold through the end of the review period, it would mark one of the steepest single-month price adjustments recorded in South Africa.

Coastal Fuel Price Comparison (2026)

One of main drivers of food prices is fuel and most trucks use Diesel which has increased at double the rat of petrol.

Below is the comparison of official coastal fuel prices published by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources for January 2026 and October 2026.

Main Drivers

International Product Spikes: Global oil market volatility and refinery capacity constraints have driven up refined fuel product costs globally.

October Baseline Pressure: These potential increases follow October adjustments that already pushed inland petrol prices past the R30/litre mark.

Limited Currency Cushion: While the Rand has remained relatively steady around the R16.20/$ level, it has not provided enough of a buffer to offset global fuel price increases.

Important Context

Early-month CEF figures reflect data captured only through the first part of the monthly review cycle. Daily over/under-recovery numbers fluctuate based on international product prices and exchange rate movements.

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources will confirm the final, official fuel price changes during the last few days of October.