SA fuel price forecast: Petrol to drop and diesel to rise in December 2026

Motorists in South Africa can breathe a sigh of relief as the price of petrol could decrease in December 2026…yet diesel drivers will have to reach deeper into their pockets.

A petrol fuel pump on Bird Street in Stellenbosch

Image: Julian Rael Gordon

Petrol prices could decrease, while diesel prices could increase in South Africa in December 2026, based on projections by the Central Energy Fund (CEF). The prices of both grades of petrol will decrease. The price of 93 ULP/LRP will drop by R1.52 per litre, and 95 ULP/LRP will drop by R1.82 per litre. The price of diesel is, however, expected rise by R1.49 and R1.15 per litre for 0.05% sulphur (500ppm) and 0.005% sulphur (50ppm), respectively. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) will announce official prices closer to 2 December 2026.

The main reasons for the price of unleaded decreasing are international oil prices have dropped and the Rand has seen marginal strength against the US Dollar. Crude oil costs $85 per barrel at the time of writing, and our currency sits at R16.39 against the USD. So, even though this would help for lowering diesel prices too, given that the SA fuel levy cut relief will reduce next month, it means diesel prices could rise in December 2026.

The recent fuel levy cut – R3 for diesel and R1.50 for petrol – will remain in place until 1 December 2026, before it drops to R1.50 and R1 for diesel and petrol, respectively, until 5 January 2027. The South African government also raised the slate levy in the fuel price structure at the beginning of November 2026, contributing to increases of 48.18 cents per litre in the prices of petrol and diesel, to offset losses in fuel price gains.

Projected December 2026 petrol and diesel prices

Inland price

  • Petrol 93 ULP/LRP – R27.85 per litre
  • Petrol 95 ULP/LRP – R28.42 per litre
  • Diesel 0.05% Sulphur/500ppm (wholesale) – R32.34 per litre
  • Diesel 0.005% Sulphur/50ppm (wholesale) – R33.24 per litre

Coastal price

  • Petrol 95 ULP/LRP – R27.55 per litre
  • Diesel 0.05% Sulphur/500ppm (wholesale) – R31.47 per litre
  • Diesel 0.005% Sulphur/50ppm (wholesale) – R31.98 per litre

November 2026 petrol and diesel prices

Inland price

  • Petrol 93 ULP/LRP – R29.37 per litre
  • Petrol 95 ULP/LRP – R30.24 per litre
  • Diesel 0.05% Sulphur/500ppm (wholesale) – R30.85 per litre
  • Diesel 0.005% Sulphur/50ppm (wholesale) – R32.09 per litre

Coastal price

  • Petrol 95 ULP/LRP – R29.37 per litre
  • Diesel 0.05% Sulphur/500ppm (wholesale) – R29.98 per litre
  • Diesel 0.005% Sulphur/50ppm (wholesale) – R30.83 per litre

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