South African motorists will pay more at the pumps from Wednesday, 4 March 2026, after the latest monthly fuel price adjustment confirmed increases for both grades of petrol and a much steeper jump for diesel. The adjustment follows higher international refined fuel prices during February, partly offset by a firmer rand during the pricing window.
The March move lands as households and transport operators brace for a second wave of pressure from 1 April 2026, when fuel levies and the Road Accident Fund levy are set to rise under Budget 2026.
The official March fuel increases
The March adjustment confirms the following increases (diesel and illuminating paraffin figures reflect wholesale prices):
- Petrol 93: up 20 cents per litre
- Petrol 95: up 20 cents per litre
- Diesel 0.05% sulphur (wholesale): up 62 cents per litre
- Diesel 0.005% sulphur (wholesale): up 65 cents per litre
- Illuminating paraffin (wholesale): up 44 cents per litre
- LPGas (Gauteng): up 23 cents per kg (with a larger increase indicated for LPGas imported via Saldanha Bay)
What motorists will pay from 4 March
Because inland fuel pricing includes higher transport and distribution costs than the coast, inland pump prices remain higher for the same product.
Inland (official) from 4 March:
- 93 petrol: R20.19 (up from R19.99)
- 95 petrol: R20.30 (up from R20.10)
- Diesel 0.05% (wholesale): R18.53
- Diesel 0.005% (wholesale): R18.60
- Illuminating paraffin: R12.54
- LPGas: R34.97 per kg
Coastal (official) from 4 March:
- 93 petrol: R19.40 (up from R19.20)
- 95 petrol: R19.47 (up from R19.27)
- Diesel 0.05% (wholesale): R17.70
- Diesel 0.005% (wholesale): R17.84
- Illuminating paraffin: R11.52
- LPGas: R31.72 per kg (Saldanha Bay LPGas listed higher)
Diesel prices above are wholesale reference prices used in the regulated adjustment. Actual retail diesel prices can differ by outlet, region and pricing model.
What drove the March increase
The Central Energy Fund (CEF), which publishes the audited price-adjustment factors on behalf of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, attributed the March outcome to two key movements during the review period:
- International product prices increased, pushing the basic fuel price higher.
- The rand strengthened on average, softening the increase but not fully offsetting higher product costs.
In the CEF’s published pricing window for March, the average rand to US dollar exchange rate is stated as 15.9959 versus 16.3054 in the prior period, which reduced the fuel price build by several cents per litre across petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin.
Another technical factor watched by industry is the “slate levy”, a stabilisation mechanism used when cumulative under-recoveries breach certain thresholds. For March, the slate levy on petrol and diesel remains 0.00 cents per litre, meaning the increase is being driven mainly by international pricing and the normal monthly correction of under-recoveries rather than an additional slate charge.
Why diesel is the bigger problem for the wider economy
A 20-cent petrol rise is noticeable for private motorists, but the bigger macro pressure often comes from diesel.
Diesel is a core input for freight, agriculture, construction and public and private transport fleets. When wholesale diesel climbs by more than 60 cents in a single month, the impact tends to show up later in:
- distribution and delivery charges
- food and goods transported long distance
- commuter and fleet operating costs
That pass-through is not immediate in every sector, but it often becomes visible in broader price pressures over subsequent weeks.
The April factor: more increases built into fuel taxes
March is not the only issue. Budget 2026 sets out higher fuel-related levies from 1 April 2026, which will add another layer of cost regardless of what oil prices do between now and then.
In the Budget Speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said:
- the general fuel levy increases by 9c per litre for petrol and 8c per litre for diesel
- the carbon fuel levy increases by 5c per litre for petrol and 6c per litre for diesel
- the Road Accident Fund levy increases by 7c per litre
National Treasury’s Budget Review also confirms the carbon fuel levy levels and the April effective date under the Carbon Tax Act framework.
For motorists, this matters because even if international oil prices ease later in March, the April levy changes can keep retail prices elevated.
Middle East volatility is adding upside risk for April
Early March has brought renewed volatility to global energy markets following the escalation of conflict involving Iran and disruption in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy transit route. Reuters reported that oil and gas prices surged as conflict-related disruptions affected production and shipping, with tanker traffic in the Strait also impacted.
South Africa’s monthly fuel pricing is backward-looking for the month it sets. The March 4 pump prices were calculated using February data in the standard review window, so the latest spike in global risk may show up more strongly in the April pricing build than in March.
What motorists can do now
There is little consumers can do to change regulated prices, but households and businesses can reduce disruption:
- Confirm which fuel your vehicle requires: using 95 when 93 is recommended can add unnecessary cost over time.
- Plan refuelling: if a tank is low, filling before Wednesday can reduce immediate exposure for the week.
- For diesel fleets, review delivery schedules and routing for March to reduce idling and empty runs.
- Budget for April: levies are already set out in Budget 2026, so households should plan for further pressure from month-end into April.
