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South Africa’s fuel prices will fall from January 7, 2026, following a review of local and international market conditions, according to Gwede Mantashe, the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, in a statement on Sunday, January 4, said fuel prices are reviewed monthly and are influenced by global oil prices, international product costs, and the rand–US dollar exchange rate.
“South Africa’s fuel prices are adjusted monthly, informed by international and local factors. International factors include the fact that South Africa imports both crude oil and finished products at a price set at the international level, including importation costs, e.g., shipping costs,” the department said.
“The main reasons for the fuel price adjustments are crude oil prices, international petroleum product prices, the Rand/US Dollar exchange rate, and the implementation of the Slate Levy, etc.”
It said the average Brent Crude oil price decreased from $63.55 to $61.47 per barrel during the period under review, hinting that the main contributing factor is oversupply in the market due to increased production by OPEC+ and non-OPEC producers.
“The average international product prices of petrol followed the decreasing trend of crude oil. The prices of middle distillates, such as diesel and illuminating paraffin, decreased more significantly because of higher inventories for the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere,” the department noted.
“These factors led to lower contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin by 45.03 c/l, 126.97 c/l and 87.96 c/l, respectively. The prices of Propane and Butane increased during the period under review due to tighter global supply.”
The department said the rand strengthened against the US dollar, appreciating from an average of R17.22 to R16.85 per dollar.
“This led to lower contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices of petrol, diesel and Illuminating Paraffin by 20,80 c/l, 22.31 c/l and 22.54 c/l respectively,” it said.
On the slate levy, the department said, “The cumulative slate amounted to a positive balance of R3.3 billion for petrol and diesel at the end of November 2025.”
It noted that “the slate levy remains unchanged at zero cents per litre in the price structures of petrol and diesel with effect from the 7th of January 2026.”
The department also confirmed adjustments to the price difference between 93 and 95 octane petrol in each fuel-pricing zone, with effect from January 7, 2026.
Based on the review, the department announced the following fuel price changes for January 2026:
- Petrol 93 (ULP & LRP): Sixty-two cents per litre (62.00 c/l) decrease.
- Petrol 95 (ULP &LRP): Sixty-six cents per litre (66.00 c/l) decrease.
- Diesel (0.05% sulphur): One hundred and thirty-seven cents per litre (137.00 c/l) decrease.
- Diesel (0.005% sulphur): One hundred and fifty cents per litre (150.00 c/l)
decrease. - Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale): One hundred and ten cents per litre (110.00 c/l) decrease.
- SMNRP for IP: One hundred and forty-eight cents per litre (148.00 c/l) decrease.
- Maximum Retail Price of LPGas: Twenty-one cents per kilogram (21.00 c/kg) increase and twenty-three cents per kilogram (23.00 c/kg) increase in the Western Cape.
“The fuel prices schedule for the different Magisterial District Zones (MDZ) will be published on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.”
