Fuel prices jump 20 cents as diesel costs surge higher

Fuel costs across South Africa are climbing again from 4 March, erasing months of relief that had pushed petrol to four-year lows.

Petrol and diesel hikes from 4 March

• Both grades of petrol jump by 20 cents per litre.
• Diesel 0.05% sulphur climbs 62 cents per litre.
• Ultra-low-sulphur diesel gets whacked with a 65-cent bump.
• Filling a 50-litre petrol tank costs an extra R10.

What is driving the price spike

• Brent crude surged from around 64 to 69 USD a barrel.
• Middle East tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran spooked supply lines.
• Rand strength only cushioned the blow by 17 to 19 cents per litre.
• The slate levy sitting at zero kept the damage from getting worse.

Ripple effects on everyday costs

• Diesel-dependent freight companies face R30 to R32 more per tank fill.
• Bread, milk, and meat prices are expected to creep up soon.
• Paraffin for cooking and heating rises 44 cents per litre wholesale.
• LP Gas goes up 23 cents per kilogram in Gauteng and 26 cents in Saldanha.

April is shaping up even rougher

• Budget 2026 tacked on about 21 cents per litre in fresh fuel levies starting 1 April.
• Carbon tax and Road Accident Fund contributions both increase.
• Persistent oil-market instability could stack even steeper hikes on top.
• Road Freight Association warns that last year's savings are already wiped out.