{"id":872348,"date":"2026-08-27T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=872348"},"modified":"2026-08-27T14:42:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T12:42:06","slug":"petrol-price-pain-for-south-africa-next-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/energy\/872348\/petrol-price-pain-for-south-africa-next-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Bad news for petrol prices in South Africa next week"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Month-end data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) shows the U-turn in recoveries this month has cemented, with a price hike for petrol and diesel all but guaranteed for September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fuel price recoveries started the month on the back foot but showed a positive trend towards neutral as hopes for peace between the US and Iran gained momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, further escalations, including threats of sanctions against Iran by the United States, sent oil markets into another spin, reversing the gains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This resulted in petrol price under-recoveries swinging from R1 per litre at the start of the month to half that by mid-month, and now back to square one by the end of the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Diesel prices showed a similar swing, though not as extreme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Diesel prices started the month with an under-recovery of R5 per litre, halved by mid-month, and are now back up at around R3 per litre at the end of the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are the recoveries at the end of the month:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Petrol 93:<\/strong> <mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">increase<\/mark> of R0.93 per litre<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Petrol 95:<\/strong> <mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">increase<\/mark> of R1.04 per litre<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Diesel 0.05% (wholesale): <\/strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">increase<\/mark> of R2.77 per litre<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Diesel 0.005% (wholesale):<\/strong> <mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">increase<\/mark> of R2.98 per litre<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Illuminating paraffin: <\/strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">increase<\/mark> of R2.16 per litre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The reversal is particularly hard for petrol users in the country, as it reflects a complete U-turn on the positive trend seen earlier in the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Diesel drivers are still getting the worst of it, with a R3\/litre hike on the cards when new pricing kicks in on Wednesday, 2 September, but it is still ~R2\/litre less than expected at the start of the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The table below outlines the recoveries at start, mid and month-to-date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><div class=\"table-responsive\"><table class=\"table\" class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Fuel<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Month Start<br>Recovery<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Mid Month<br>Recovery<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">MTD<br>Recovery<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">MTD Recovery<br>change<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Petrol 93<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">(R0.90)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">(R0.63)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">(R0.93)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>+R0.03<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Petrol 95<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">(R1.01)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">(R0.74)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">(R1.04)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>+R0.03<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Diesel 0.05%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">(R4.84)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">(R2.73)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">(R2.77)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">-R2.07<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Diesel 0.005%<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">(R4.96)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">(R2.89)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">(R2.98)<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">-R1.98<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The coming increases are still subject to other month-end adjustments by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, such as the slate levy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In line with the provisions of the Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism, the slate levy of 61.38 c\/l was incorporated into the petrol and diesel price structures for August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This resulted in a 53-cent-per-litre reduction in the slate levy for the month, down from 114 cents previously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, given the volatility in global oil prices in August\u2014especially the spikes above $90 a barrel\u2014the levy could be increased again to compensate importers and fuel companies for the additional costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This adjustment will only be announced in the official price change announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rand and oil pulling in opposite directions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Rand-oil.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Rand-oil-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-853320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Rand-oil-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Rand-oil-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Rand-oil-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Rand-oil.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The month-end under-recovery is driven entirely by the August climb in oil prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The movement in international product prices\u2014rooted in the oil price\u2014is creating an under-recovery of up to R1.25 per litre for petrol and R3.25 per litre for diesel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oil prices can&#8217;t win, with prices retreating thanks to increased flows through the Strait of Hormuz, but being pulled the other way by rising tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war that are curbing output.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While there is no end in sight for the US-Iran war, oil markets have been boosted thanks to optimism over an agreement between Iran and Oman over shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>New US economic measures against Tehran and its trading partners also weren\u2019t as harsh as anticipated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, strikes by Ukraine on Russian refineries and ports have prevented Moscow from diverting crude into exports. Russia is also now threatening to escalate the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oil prices are currently around $89 a barrel, reflecting the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While this is under $90 a barrel and a far stretch from the $100-$120 levels at the start of the US-Iran War, prices are still up more than 40% this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Running counter to the oil price under-recovery is the stronger rand, which has broken under R16\/$ to reach some of its strongest levels in almost six months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the rand was affected by the war at its onset, it has since been bolstered by a weaker dollar and renewed positive sentiment in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is now cutting the under-recovery in fuel prices by between 20 and 28 cents per litre, softening the blow of next week&#8217;s hike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources will announce the official fuel price changes in the coming days, before they come into effect next week Wednesday, 2 September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Post-Iran War price adjustments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><div class=\"table-responsive\"><table class=\"table\" class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Month<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Petrol 95<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Diesel 0.005%<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>March<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">+R0.20<\/mark><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">+R0.65<\/mark><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>April<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">+R3.06<\/mark><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">+R7.51<\/mark><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>May<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">+R3.27<\/mark><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">+R5.27<\/mark><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>June<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">+R1.43<\/mark><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">-R2.62<\/mark><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>July<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">-R1.96<\/mark><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">-R3.59<\/mark><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>August<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">-R0.52<\/mark><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">+R1.23<\/mark><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Total difference<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>+R5.48<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>+R8.45<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>September (current recovery)<\/em><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\"><em>+R1.04<\/em><\/mark><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\"><em>+R2.98<\/em><\/mark><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong><em>Projected difference<\/em><\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong><em>+R6.52<\/em><\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong><em>+R11.43<\/em><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Month-end data from the Central Energy Fund shows the U-turn in recoveries this month has cemented, with a price hike for petrol and diesel all but guaranteed for September.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":714644,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sma_x_autopost_status":"posted","_sma_x_autopost_error":"","_sma_x_post_id":"2092937934194327807","_sma_facebook_post_id":"191437357620492_2188126938674372","_sma_instagram_post_id":"18140251228529419","_sma_x_attempts":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9874],"tags":[8995,19909,2171],"class_list":["post-872348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-energy","tag-cef","tag-diesel-price","tag-petrol-price"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/872348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=872348"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/872348\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":872400,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/872348\/revisions\/872400"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/714644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=872348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=872348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=872348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}