Motorists are paying up to R63 less to fill up their tanks than they were two months ago.
South Africa was hit with a considerable fuel price hike back in February, but the latest price adjustments that took place this April have done an appreciable job of lowering costs back to what they were prior to the increases.
A good start to the next quarter
Local fuel prices hit a high of R22.41 per litre for petrol 95 this February, following an 82c per litre hike.
Unfortunately, March’s adjustments did very little to ease pressure at the pump with a paltry reduction of less than 10c per litre.
Luckily, we got a far larger reduction this April, as shown below:
- February – 82c per litre increase
- March – 7c per litre decrease
- April – 72c per litre decrease
While the net result of these adjustments is still 3c per litre higher than what it was previously, road users are sure to take what good news they can get at the moment, since it means prices have noticeably dropped from what they were not that long ago.
The following table shows the impact that April’s price cuts will have on the bill you’ll see next time you refuel, depending on your car’s tank size:
| Tank size | Cost to refill in February 2025 (R22.41) | Cost to refill in April 2025 (R21.62) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 litres | R672.30 | R648.60 | – R23.70 |
| 40 litres | R896.40 | R864.80 | – R31.60 |
| 50 litres | R1,120.50 | R1,081 | – R39.50 |
| 60 litres | R1,344.60 | R1,297.20 | – R47.40 |
| 70 litres | R1,568.70 | R1,513.40 | – R55.30 |
| 80 litres | R1,792.80 | R1,729.60 | – R63.20 |
Anyone who owns a large bakkie or SUV will be saving up to R63 per top-up, but the proportional savings are just as meaningful to anyone who fills up a small hatchback more frequently owing to their smaller tanks.
The price cuts are largely thanks to a reduction in the international trading price of Brent Crude oil in March, which dropped from $74.89 per barrel to $71.04 per barrel.
The drop is attributed to the continued supply from non-OPEC nations, and the good news is that OPEC is also expected to increase production this April, which could further reduce oil prices.
Another factor lowering petroleum rates is the rand/US dollar exchange rate, as the latter appreciated against the dollar in March with an improved conversion of R18.30/dollar compared to R18.50/dollar.
Unfortunately, this is a positive trend that was shattered following the US President Donald Trump’s global tariff announcements, which plunged the rand’s value to R19.58/dollar.
The concern is that this could undermine the reduction in oil prices and ultimately lead to higher prices in May and beyond.
Data from the Central Energy Fund suggests as much, as the current prediction is that prices may go up by 9c per litre for petrol 95 and 15c per litre for petrol 93 in May.
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