The price of diesel is set to surge past the R32 mark per litre, a first for the country as it takes another hit from the conflict in the Middle East.
This follows a third consecutive fuel price shock for the month of May, despite an extended intervention to cushion households and businesses from the impact of the spike in oil and other energy prices.
Both grades of diesel will go up by R6.19 per litre increase when the latest adjustments take effect on Wednesday. This means diesel 500ppm will retail for at least R32.09 per litre, while diesel 50ppm will cost R32.30 per litre, beating the already-historic prices seen in April.
The agricultural industry, which mostly runs on diesel, is among the hardest hit by the jump in prices.
Petrol 93 and 95 will see an increase of R3.27 per litre, also bringing prices back to levels seen at the peak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMRE) confirmed the latest fuel price increases for May in a statement on Monday.
South Africa’s fuel prices are adjusted monthly, informed by international and local factors. The price of brent crude is the biggest sore point at the moment, as global leaders continue to scramble for reprieve from the standoff between the US, Israel and Iran.
The average brent crude oil price increased from 93.67 dollars to 101 dollars during the period under review.
The average international product prices followed the increasing trend of crude oil prices. DMRE says the prices of middle distillates (diesel and paraffin) increased more than petrol prices because of higher demand and reduced supply from the Persian Gulf.
“These factors led to higher contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin by R2.04 per litre, R4.96 per litre and R4.21 per litre, respectively.
“The prices of Propane and Butane increased during the period under review due to limited global supply since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement adds.
Based on current local and international factors, the fuel prices for May 2026 will be adjusted as follows:
- Petrol 93 and 95 (ULP & LRP): R3.27 per litre increase
- Diesel (0.05% sulphur): R6.19 per litre increase
- Illuminating paraffin (wholesale): R4.22 per litre increase
- SMNRP for IP: R5.63 per litre increase
- Maximum retail price of LPGas: R5.07 per kg increase in Gauteng and R5.78 per kg increase in the Western Cape
Extension of short-term relief measure to address fuel price increases
Due to the ongoing Middle East tensions, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and DMRE Minister Gwede Mantashe announced a further temporary reduction in the general fuel levy of 300.0 c/l to be implemented in the price structures of petrol and R393.0 c/l for diesel from the 6 May 2026 to the 2 June 2026.
But from 1 July onwards, the general fuel levy for petrol will return to R4.10 per litre and the general fuel levy for diesel will return to R3.93 per litre.
