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.
A fuel under-recovery happens when the regulated price is lower than the real cost of importing fuel during the month. It leads to a price increase the following month.
What Is Fuel Under Recovery: direct answer
The fuel price is fixed for a month at a time, but the cost of imported fuel changes daily with international prices and the exchange rate. The Central Energy Fund measures the gap every day. A positive average is an over-recovery; a negative average is an under-recovery. At the end of the review period the average gap is passed on to motorists in the next month’s price.
The latest example
For the period 28 August to 1 October 2026 the average was an under-recovery of 328.894 c/l on petrol. Rounded to 329 cents, plus a 4.38 c/l rise in the slate levy and less 0.38 c/l of pump rounding, it produced the R3.33 increase in Petrol 95 on 7 October 2026.
| c/l | Petrol 95 | Diesel 500ppm | Diesel 50ppm | Paraffin |
| Movement in international product prices | -329.065 | -280.172 | -319.631 | -357.227 |
| Movement in exchange rate | +0.171 | +0.215 | +0.223 | +0.212 |
| Average under-recovery | -328.894 | -279.957 | -319.408 | -357.015 |
| Price increase applied | 333.00 | 284.38 | 324.38 | 358.00 |
Source: composition of the price in Gauteng for 7 October to 3 November 2026, from the media statement released by the Central Energy Fund on behalf of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources on 2 October 2026.
How it works in South Africa
- The gap is measured daily against the basic fuel price built into the current pump price.
- International product prices are the main driver; the exchange rate is the second.
- The average for the review period is rounded to the nearest full cent.
- Differences that are not passed on accumulate on the slate, which is cleared by the slate levy.
Common mistakes and misconceptions
- A mid-month figure is not a forecast. The number that counts is the average over the whole review period.
- An under-recovery is not a profit or a loss for motorists; it is a timing difference that is corrected the next month.
- Levy changes are separate and are added on top.
Related prices, forecasts and tools
- Petrol price today
- Fuel price breakdown
- Basic fuel price
- Why fuel prices change every month
- Petrol price prediction
- Fuel cost calculator
Frequently asked questions
Does an under-recovery mean prices will rise?
Yes, if it is still there when the review period closes and no levy change offsets it.
Who calculates it?
The Central Energy Fund, on behalf of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.
When 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.