Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has published the official fuel price adjustments that will take effect on Wednesday, 7 January 2026.
December saw oil prices trade in a wider range, fluctuating between $58 and $63 a barrel, while the rand ended the year on a much stronger footing.
This led to a stronger over-recovery in fuel prices for the month, leading to significant price cuts for petrol and diesel in the new year.
From Wednesday, petrol users will see prices decrease by 62-66 cents per litre, while diesel drivers will see a much larger cut between 137 and 150 cents per litre.
The table below outlines the changes:
FuelChangePetrol 93decrease of 62 cents per litrePetrol 95decrease of 66 cents per litreDiesel 0.05% (wholesale)decrease of 137 cents per litreDiesel 0.005% (wholesale)decrease of 150 cents per litreIlluminating Paraffin (Wholesale)decrease of 110 cents per litreLPGAS (Gauteng)increase of 21 cents per kg
The average international product prices for Petrol, Diesel and Illuminating Paraffin decreased during the period under review.
The Rand appreciated against the US Dollar during the period under review, on average, when compared to the previous period.
The average Rand/US Dollar exchange rate for the period 4 December 2025 to 1 January 2026 was 16.8485 compared to 17.2343 during the previous period.
This led to a lower contribution to the Basic Fuel Prices on petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin by 20.798 c/l, 22.116 c/l, 22.540 c/l, respectively.
In line with the Working Rules to determine the Basic Fuels Prices (BFP), the differential between 95 and 93 octanes is adjusted on the first Wednesday of each quarter.
The BFP Octane differential has changed during the previous quarter; therefore, the retail prices of 95 and 93 petrol octanes will differ in each fuel-pricing zone, effective from January 7, 2026.
This is how the price changes will reflect at the pumps (Diesel prices reflect wholesale, pump prices will differ):
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