Official figures — October 2026. These are the confirmed prices published by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), effective Wednesday, 7 October 2026. Petrol 93 rose 312 c/l, petrol 95 rose 333 c/l, diesel 500ppm rose 284 c/l, diesel 50ppm rose 324 c/l and illuminating paraffin rose 358 c/l. The previous official prices took effect on 2 September 2026.
Staying informed about the latest fuel price South Africa is essential for managing your personal transport budget or overseeing commercial fleet operations. South Africa’s fuel prices are adjusted on the first Wednesday of every month by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), based on global oil markets and the strength of the South African Rand.
This page serves as your central informational hub for the current official regulated pump and wholesale prices, regional variations, and upcoming trends.
Latest Fuel Price South Africa: Current Price
The latest official fuel prices in South Africa came into effect on Wednesday, 7 October 2026. This month brought steep across-the-board increases for motorists, driven by a rise in global crude oil prices while the Rand was almost unchanged. The General Fuel Levy is unchanged and offers no cushion.
- Effective Date: 7 October 2026
- Petrol 95 ULP (Inland): R30.25 per litre
- Petrol 93 ULP (Inland): R29.88 per litre
- Diesel 0.005% Wholesale (Inland): R32.80 per litre
Note: While petrol pump prices are strictly regulated nationwide based on your zone, diesel prices listed here reflect the official wholesale structure. Retail outlets set their own diesel margins, meaning pump prices vary by station.
Latest Petrol and Fuel Price Table
To see exactly what you will pay at the filling station or wholesale depot, review the complete official pricing structure for both inland and coastal zones.
Official Fuel Prices (Effective 7 October 2026)
| Fuel Grade | Inland Price | Coastal Price | Price Direction |
| Petrol 95 Unleaded (ULP) | R30.25 / L | R29.38 / L | Increased |
| Petrol 93 Unleaded (ULP & LRP) | R29.88 / L | R29.01 / L | Increased |
| Diesel 0.05% Sulphur (Wholesale) | R31.95 / L | R31.08 / L | Increased |
| Diesel 0.005% Sulphur (Wholesale) | R32.80 / L | R31.93 / L | Increased |
| Illuminating Paraffin (Wholesale) | R24.47 / L | R23.42 / L | Increased |
| LPGas (Maximum Retail Price) | R37.81 / kg | R34.56 / kg | Increased |
To accurately calculate your monthly transport overheads or plan a long-distance trip based on these figures, you can utilize our dedicated interactive tools to calculate fuel cost.
Price Change from the Previous Month
The October 2026 pricing adjustment marked a second consecutive sharp increase. The average Brent Crude price rose from about $88 to $101 per barrel, and lower global inventories pushed international petrol, diesel and paraffin prices higher, producing sustained under-recoveries through the review cycle.
The increases were compounded by the slate levy, which rose a further 4.38 c/l to 87.66 c/l instead of cushioning the adjustment. With National Treasury’s emergency fuel levy relief long since concluded, the full General Fuel Levy sits in the baseline and no tax cushion remains.
Net Monthly Adjustments
- Petrol 93: Increased by 312.00 c/l (R3.12 per litre)
- Petrol 95: Increased by 333.00 c/l (R3.33 per litre)
- Diesel 0.05%: Increased by 284.38 c/l (R2.84 per litre)
- Diesel 0.005%: Increased by 324.38 c/l (R3.24 per litre)
- Illuminating Paraffin: Wholesale price increased by 358.00 c/l (R3.58 per litre)
- LPGas: Increased by 16.00 c/kg
Inland vs Coastal Prices
If you have ever wondered why fuel is cheaper in Durban than it is in Johannesburg, the answer lies entirely in logistics and transport costs.
Why the Price Gap Exists
South Africa applies a regulated zone differential system managed by the DMPR. Because refined petroleum products are imported via coastal ports or refined at the coast, moving that fuel inland via pipelines, rail, or road tankers incurs significant secondary transport expenses.
Current Discrepancies
- The Petrol Variance: For October 2026, Petrol 95 ULP costs R30.25 inland versus R29.38 at the coast. This is a direct difference of 87 cents per litre purely due to inland transport tariffs.
- The Diesel Variance: Wholesale Diesel 0.005% sits at R32.80 inland versus R31.93 at coastal distribution hubs, reflecting a gap of 76 cents per litre.
Related guides: Fuel Price Trends South Africa and Monthly Fuel Price History.
Petrol Grades, Diesel and Related Fuels
Selecting the appropriate fuel involves understanding the specific pricing structures and vehicle mechanical requirements for each grade.
Petrol Grades: 93 vs 95 Octane
- 93 Octane: Primarily designated for older or lower-compression passenger vehicles running at higher altitudes (inland). It is generally cheaper than 95 octane.
- 95 Octane: Required by modern turbocharged engines and all vehicles operating at sea level (coastal). In coastal regions, 95 octane is typically the only unleaded petrol option readily available at retail stations.
Diesel Grades: 50ppm vs 500ppm
Unlike petrol, diesel pricing in South Africa is deregulated at the retail level. The figures published by the government are wholesale benchmarks.
- Diesel 0.05% (500ppm): Contains a higher sulphur content. It is largely utilized by older agricultural machinery, heavy industrial trucks, and legacy commercial fleets. It is cheaper but less environmentally friendly.
- Diesel 0.005% (50ppm): High-specification low-sulphur diesel required by modern passenger vehicles, SUVs, and advanced common-rail commercial transport engines to prevent system clogging and manage emissions.
How to Use This Price Information
Regularly monitoring the official fuel price structure allows consumers and logistics operators to make financially sound operational choices.
Actionable Steps for Fleet Operators
If you manage commercial logistics, tracking the wholesale diesel movements allows you to adjust your freight fuel surcharges accurately on the first Wednesday of the month. Since diesel is deregulated, negotiating bulk-buy discounts from local distributors against the official inland or coastal wholesale benchmark can protect your operating margins.
Actionable Steps for Daily Commuters
Knowing the exact fuel price can change when and where you top up. Because adjustments take effect at midnight on the designated Wednesday, an announced reduction means you should delay filling up your tank until Thursday morning. Conversely, if an increase is looming, filling up early saves money.
To stay ahead of these monthly cycles and see immediate data adjustments, bookmark our live dashboard detailing the fuel price today.
Related Tools and Updates
Fuel adjustments do not happen in a vacuum. Throughout the month, the Central Energy Fund (CEF) publishes daily over- and under-recovery indicators.
Key Indicators to Monitor
To anticipate whether the next month will bring an increase or a decrease, you must track:
- The Basic Fuel Price (BFP): The core international cost of purchasing fuel before local taxes and retail margins are added.
- The Rand/Dollar Exchange Rate: A strengthening Rand means it costs less local currency to purchase dollar-denominated oil.
- The Daily Recovery Balance: If international product prices drop relative to the local fixed price, an “over-recovery” accumulates, indicating a potential price cut. If international costs surge, an “under-recovery” builds, warning of a future hike.
Keep in mind that daily CEF data represents a running average, not a final guarantee. Official changes are only confirmed when announced formally by the Ministry of Mineral and Petroleum Resources during the final days of the calendar month.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the fuel price change in South Africa?
South Africa’s fuel prices change at midnight on the first Wednesday of every calendar month, following an official press release by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources a few days prior.
Why is diesel pricing deregulated while petrol is regulated?
Petrol is tightly regulated by the government to protect retail consumers from price gouging at the pumps. Diesel is considered a primary commercial input for sectors like logistics, farming, and manufacturing; its deregulation allows service stations and wholesalers to compete freely, giving businesses room to negotiate bulk discounts.
What is the Slate Levy in the fuel price breakdown?
The Slate Levy is a self-adjusting mechanism used to repay oil companies for imbalances caused by the lag between daily international market changes and the fixed monthly retail price. For October 2026, the Slate Levy rose to 87.66 c/l because the cumulative slate balance remained negative.
How can I find the overarching history of fuel costs?
To view historic multi-year trends, analyze historical data sheets, or view the complete parent pricing roadmap, visit our comprehensive fuel price South Africa primary hub.