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.
The inland wholesale price of diesel 50ppm (0.005% sulphur) is R32.80 per litre from 7 October 2026, the highest in this record. In January 2012 it was R10.33, and the lowest point since then was R9.30 in February 2015.
Diesel 50ppm Price History overview
This page tracks the inland wholesale price of diesel 50ppm (0.005% sulphur) month by month from January 2012 to October 2026. Diesel prices here are the regulated wholesale prices; the pump price is not regulated and varies by station.
Over the full period the price has risen by R22.47 per litre, or 217%.
Historical price table
Yearly average, lowest and highest price, with the change in the yearly average from the year before.
| Year | Average | Lowest | Highest | Change in average |
| 2012 | R10.80 | R10.16 (Jul) | R11.50 (Nov) | |
| 2013 | R12.04 | R11.16 (Jan) | R12.67 (Sep) | +11.4% |
| 2014 | R12.75 | R11.37 (Dec) | R13.43 (Mar) | +5.9% |
| 2015 | R10.83 | R9.30 (Feb) | R11.74 (Jul) | -15.1% |
| 2016 | R10.68 | R9.48 (Feb) | R11.74 (Jul) | -1.4% |
| 2017 | R11.79 | R11.02 (Jul) | R13.02 (Dec) | +10.4% |
| 2018 | R14.00 | R12.15 (Mar) | R16.20 (Nov) | +18.7% |
| 2019 | R14.45 | R13.17 (Jan) | R15.28 (Jun) | +3.2% |
| 2020 | R12.98 | R11.18 (May) | R14.68 (Jan) | -10.2% |
| 2021 | R15.17 | R13.02 (Jan) | R17.98 (Dec) | +16.9% |
| 2022 | R22.51 | R17.28 (Jan) | R25.74 (Nov) | +48.3% |
| 2023 | R21.75 | R19.70 (Jun) | R25.22 (Oct) | -3.4% |
| 2024 | R20.73 | R18.57 (Oct) | R22.61 (Mar) | -4.7% |
| 2025 | R19.54 | R18.57 (Jun) | R20.44 (Feb) | -5.7% |
| 2026 (to October) | R25.53 | R17.95 (Feb) | R32.80 (Oct) | +30.7% |
Monthly changes
The last 13 official adjustments.
| Effective date | Price per litre | Change |
| 7 October 2026 | R32.80 | Up R3.24 |
| 2 September 2026 | R29.56 | Up R3.15 |
| 5 August 2026 | R26.41 | Up R1.23 |
| 1 July 2026 | R25.17 | Down R3.59 |
| 3 June 2026 | R28.76 | Down R2.62 |
| 6 May 2026 | R31.38 | Up R5.27 |
| 1 April 2026 | R26.11 | Up R7.51 |
| 4 March 2026 | R18.60 | Up R0.65 |
| 4 February 2026 | R17.95 | Down R0.57 |
| 1 January 2026 | R18.52 | Down R1.50 |
| 3 December 2025 | R20.02 | Up R0.82 |
| 3 November 2025 | R19.20 | Down R0.19 |
| 1 October 2025 | R19.39 | Down R0.08 |
Long-term trend and key turning points
- 2014 to 2016: the international oil price crash pulled prices down to the lowest point in this record, R9.30 in February 2015.
- 2020: lockdowns collapsed fuel demand worldwide and the price fell to R11.18 in May 2020.
- 2022: prices surged after Russia invaded Ukraine, peaking at R25.74 in November 2022.
- 2024 to early 2026: prices eased, reaching R17.95 in February 2026.
- 2026: a run of steep increases from April took the price to a record R32.80 in October 2026, as international oil and product prices climbed.
Source and coverage: Prices are the official monthly figures published for the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, as tabulated by the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa. This page covers January 2012 to October 2026. Petrol figures are regulated pump prices; diesel and paraffin figures are wholesale prices, so pump prices for diesel vary by station.
Compare the data
Coastal prices follow the same pattern at a lower level, because less transport cost is included. The current coastal figure is R31.93 per litre.
Related current price and forecast pages
- Diesel price South Africa
- Diesel price history South Africa
- Diesel cost calculator
- Fleet diesel cost calculator
- Diesel price inland vs coastal
- Fuel price updates archive
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest price on record?
R32.80 per litre, effective 7 October 2026. This record starts in January 2012.
What is the lowest price since 2012?
R9.30 per litre, effective 4 February 2015.
How often does the price change?
On the first Wednesday of every month. The current prices took effect on 7 October 2026 and the next adjustment is due on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
Where do these figures come from?
From the official monthly price announcements made for the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, as tabulated by the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa. This page covers January 2012 onwards.