FUEL PRICE DROP OPPAD

DIESEL customers can look forward to significant savings at the pumps from Wednesday, 3 September while petrol is looking set for a minor reduction.

Month-end unaudited data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) is currently pointing to diesel price reductions of between 55 cents (500ppm) and 56 cents (50ppm), and petrol price decreases of between 4 cents (95 Unleaded) and 12 cents (93 Unleaded).

Should these predictions materialise, a litre of 95 Unleaded petrol will cost R20.76 at the coast and R21.55 in Gauteng, while 93 Unleaded will retail for R21.39. The wholesale price of 50ppm diesel is expected to decline to R18.72 at the coast and R19.48 in Gauteng.

International petroleum and diesel prices are largely responsible for September’s adjustment, with the rand having played a minor role by providing 1.5 cents worth of relief to the equation. International diesel prices, in particular, have fallen during the preceding month, due to rising inventories, Bloomberg reported.

The official fuel prices for September will be announced by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy early this week.

The diesel price reductions are good news for general inflation, given the role that transport costs play in the price of goods and services. Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) rose to 3.5% in July, from 3.0% the month before, and although this was largely due to food price inflation, diesel price hikes of between 63 and 65 cents did play a role.

September’s diesel price decrease will, however, bring prices back to the same level as earlier this year.

The petrol price has also seen relative stability in 2025, with 95 Unleaded currently being 4 cents cheaper than it was in January.