Motorists will get much-needed relief at the petrol pumps next week.
South African motorists will be paying less for petrol and diesel at the pumps from next week.
The petrol price decrease from Wednesday, 7 May 2025, will be a relief for cash-strapped motorists after the 0.5% VAT increase.
Petrol and diesel prices
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) announced that the price of 93-octane will decrease by 22 cents per litre, while 95-octane petrol will also cost 22 cents per litre less.
The price of diesel (0.05% sulphur) decreases by 42 cents per litre, while diesel with 0.005% sulphur goes down by 41 cents per litre.
Meanwhile, illuminating paraffin will cost 31 cents less per litre, while the price of LP gas increases by 46c/kg.
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How much will fuel cost you?
When the fuel price increase kicks in, a litre of 93 unleaded petrol will cost R21.29 per litre, while 95 unleaded will be R21.40.
The wholesale price of 0.05% diesel will increase to R18.93 per litre, and 0.005% will cost R18.91.
Reasons for petrol decrease
DMRE spokesperson Robert Maake said several factors, including the international petroleum product prices and the rand/US dollar exchange rate, contributed to the decrease in petrol and diesel prices.
“The average international petroleum product prices of petrol and diesel followed the decreasing trend of crude oil prices while the price of LPG increased due to higher freight (shipping costs) during the period under review.
“These factors led to lower contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin by 51.06 cents per litre (c/l), 71.28 c/l and 61.32 c/l respectively,” Maake said.
Brent Crude oil price
Maake said the average Brent Crude oil price decreased from 71.04 US Dollars (USD) to 66.40 USD during the period under review.
“The tariff and trade war initiated by the US which has raised global economic recession concerns and a possible lower demand for crude oil, and oversupply of oil from non-OPEC countries and the anticipated increase in oil production by OPEC+ members.”
Rand/US dollar exchange
Maake said the the Rand depreciated on average, against the US Dollar (from 18.30 to 18.84 Rand per USD) during the period under review when compared to the previous one.
“This led to higher contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices of petrol, diesel and Illuminating Paraffin by 29.13 c/l, 30.34 c/l and 30.24 cents per litre (c/l) respectively”.
Slate levy
Maake said the cumulative slate amounted to a positive balance of R3.9 billion for petrol and diesel of at the end of March 2025.
“In line with the provisions of the Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism, a slate levy remains unchanged at zero cents per litre in the price structures of petrol and diesel with effect from the 7th of May 2025”.
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