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.
Adjusted for inflation, the 2012 average price of Petrol 95 inland (R11.56) is worth about R22.94 per litre in today’s money. The October 2026 price of R30.25 is above every earlier yearly average in real terms.
Fuel Price Inflation Adjusted South Africa overview
A rand bought more in 2012 than it does now, so old pump prices look cheaper than they were. Adjusting for inflation puts every year on the same footing.
Nominal and inflation-adjusted yearly averages
| Year | Petrol 95 (actual) | Petrol 95 (2026 money) | Diesel 500ppm (actual) | Diesel 500ppm (2026 money) |
| 2012 | R11.56 | R22.94 | R10.75 | R21.32 |
| 2013 | R12.92 | R24.20 | R11.99 | R22.46 |
| 2014 | R13.84 | R24.43 | R12.70 | R22.43 |
| 2015 | R12.41 | R20.95 | R10.77 | R18.19 |
| 2016 | R12.63 | R20.03 | R10.64 | R16.88 |
| 2017 | R13.63 | R20.56 | R11.74 | R17.71 |
| 2018 | R15.42 | R22.21 | R13.95 | R20.08 |
| 2019 | R15.73 | R21.78 | R14.40 | R19.93 |
| 2020 | R14.75 | R19.76 | R12.93 | R17.32 |
| 2021 | R17.56 | R22.51 | R15.14 | R19.41 |
| 2022 | R22.80 | R27.34 | R22.35 | R26.81 |
| 2023 | R23.14 | R26.20 | R21.52 | R24.38 |
| 2024 | R23.12 | R25.07 | R20.58 | R22.32 |
| 2025 | R21.66 | R22.76 | R19.47 | R20.45 |
Method: each yearly average is multiplied by the latest Stats SA headline consumer price index (107.7 for August 2026, with December 2024 = 100) and divided by the average index for that year. The result is the old price expressed in August 2026 money.
What the adjusted figures show
- In real terms the most expensive full year for petrol was 2022 (R27.34 per litre in 2026 money) and the cheapest was 2020 (R19.76).
- The 2025 average, R22.76 in 2026 money, was slightly below the 2012 average of R22.94: for more than a decade petrol had risen no faster than prices in general.
- The 2026 increases changed that. The October 2026 price of R30.25 is about 33% above the 2025 average in real terms.
Historical coverage and update frequency
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.
Inflation figures are from the Stats SA consumer price index history. The 2026 year is left out of the table because the yearly average index is not yet available.
Related history and forecast pages
- Petrol price today
- Petrol price history South Africa
- Diesel price history South Africa
- Petrol price history chart
- Fuel price updates archive
- Petrol price prediction
Frequently asked questions
Is fuel more expensive than it used to be, allowing for inflation?
In October 2026, yes: the price is above every yearly average since 2012 in real terms. In 2025 it was not.
Which inflation measure is used?
The Stats SA headline consumer price index.
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.