Petrol prices could pass R23 per litre in South Africa

Data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) shows that South African petrol prices will possibly rise beyond R23 per litre in May 2023, a first for this year. Read further about all the implications.¹

According to the Automobile Association (AA), petrol price increases further debilitate consumers’ spending power while they are battling serious food inflation on another front. Fortunately, the April 2023 article by TopAuto indicates that diesel prices may decrease by a sizeable 57 cents per litre on 25 May. ¹

Because diesel fuel is a critical resource used in the manufacturing, mining, and agricultural sectors, any price increase immediately impacts the cost of basic commodities. ¹

Consumers already face a 14-year high of 14.4% in food inflation and a rise in the consumer price index (cpi) to 7.1 % in March 2023. Therefore, any increase in diesel prices would have been too much for many.  According to the CEF, the projected price of diesel (0.005%) may decrease by 57 cents per litre. In contrast, the projected cost of 93 octane petrol could increase by 56 cents per litre. ¹

Persistently high international petrol product prices during April are the leading cause for the South African petrol price increases expected in May. On the other hand, a marked decrease in the international diesel price during April caused a reduction in the South African diesel price. ¹

The rand traded on average at about R17.80 to the dollar on 31 March, increasing to R18.21 by 25 April. This caused an over-recovery of 11 to 12 cents per litre for all grades of both petrol and diesel. ¹

This article aims to inform South African consumers that petrol prices could pass R23 per litre. ¹

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