Minister Gwede Mantashe has announced that fuel prices in South Africa will be adjusted starting from 7 January 2026. These adjustments are based on both local and international factors. South Africa imports crude oil and finished petroleum products, and their prices are influenced by international markets, including shipping and import costs.
The main reasons for the changes in fuel prices are as follows:
- Crude oil prices have fallen, with the average price of Brent Crude decreasing from 63.55 USD to 61.47 USD. This is mainly due to an oversupply in the market caused by increased production from both OPEC and non-OPEC countries.
- International petroleum product prices, including petrol, diesel, and illuminating paraffin, have followed the downward trend of crude oil. Diesel and paraffin prices decreased more significantly because of higher inventories in the Northern Hemisphere during winter. These factors contributed to reductions in the basic fuel prices for petrol, diesel, and paraffin by 45.03 c/l, 126.97 c/l, and 87.96 c/l, respectively. However, propane and butane prices increased due to tighter global supply.
- The South African Rand appreciated against the USD, moving from 17.22 to 16.85 Rand per USD. This appreciation contributed to lower basic fuel prices for petrol, diesel, and illuminating paraffin by 20.80 c/l, 22.31 c/l, and 22.54 c/,l respectively.
- The cumulative slate balance for petrol and diesel was positive, totalling R3.3 billion at the end of November 2025. In accordance with the Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism, the slate levy remains at 0 c/l in the price structures of petrol and diesel.
- The price difference between 95 and 93 octane petrol is adjusted quarterly. This quarter’s adjustment affects the retail prices of the two petrol grades in each fuel-pricing zone starting from 7 January 2026.
- For LPGas imported through the Port of Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape, the Maximum Refinery Gate Price will be R12,603.99 per metric ton. The Maximum Retail Price will be R33.22 per kilogram, effective from 3 December 2025.
As a result of these factors, the fuel price changes for January 2026 are as follows:
- Petrol 93 (ULP and LRP) will decrease by 62 c/l.
- Petrol 95 (ULP and LRP) will decrease by 66 c/l.
- Diesel (0.05% sulphur) will decrease by 137 c/l.
- Diesel (0.005% sulphur) will decrease by 150 c/l.
- Illuminating paraffin (wholesale) will decrease by 110 c/l.
- SMNRP for illuminating paraffin will decrease by 148 c/l.
- Maximum Retail Price of LPGas will increase by 21 c/kg and by 23 c/kg in the Western Cape.
The detailed fuel price schedule for each Magisterial District Zone will be published on Tuesday, 6 January 2026.
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