South African motorists face a sharp fuel price increase from Wednesday, September 2, 2026, with petrol rising by R1.34 a litre and diesel climbing by between R2.94 and R3.15 a litre.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) has confirmed the new September 2026 fuel prices, after our earlier fuel price prediction warned motorists to brace for another increase.
Diesel users will take the biggest hit, with the 0.005% sulphur diesel wholesale price rising by R3.15 a litre.
September 2026 fuel price changes
The increases take effect from Wednesday, September 2, covering petrol, diesel, illuminating paraffin and LPGas.
| Fuel type | August price | September price | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93 petrol – inland | R25.42/l | R26.76/l | +R1.34 |
| 95 petrol – inland | R25.58/l | R26.92/l | +R1.34 |
| 93 petrol – coastal | R24.63/l | R25.97/l | +R1.34 |
| 95 petrol – coastal | R24.71/l | R26.05/l | +R1.34 |
| Diesel 0.05% – inland* | R26.17/l | R29.11/l | +R2.94 |
| Diesel 0.005% – inland* | R26.90/l | R30.05/l | +R3.15 |
| Diesel 0.05% – coastal* | R25.30/l | R28.24/l | +R2.94 |
| Diesel 0.005% – coastal* | R25.64/l | R28.79/l | +R3.15 |
| Illuminating paraffin – inland* | R18.76/l | R20.89/l | +R2.13 |
| Illuminating paraffin – coastal* | R17.70/l | R19.83/l | +R2.13 |
| LPGas – inland | R36.70/kg | R37.39/kg | +R0.69 |
| LPGas – coastal | R33.44/kg | R34.13/kg | +R0.69 |
*Diesel and illuminating paraffin prices are wholesale prices. Diesel pump prices are not regulated and may differ between retailers.
The latest adjustment means 95 petrol will cost R26.92 a litre inland and R26.05 at the coast from Wednesday. The 0.005% diesel wholesale price will reach R30.05 a litre inland.
What is driving the September fuel price hike?
Global oil prices are the biggest driver.
The average Brent crude price rose from $82.37 to $87.88 a barrel during the period used to calculate the September adjustment.
The department attributed the increase to ongoing US-Iran tensions, uncertainty around oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz and higher shipping costs.
Supply disruptions linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and lower global inventories also pushed international petrol and diesel product prices higher.
These factors increased the contribution to the Basic Fuel Price (BFP) by 127.79 cents a litre for petrol and 321.29 cents for diesel.
A stronger rand provided some relief. The average rand-dollar exchange rate improved from R16.46 to R16.21, reducing the BFP contribution by 21.07 cents a litre for petrol and 29.06 cents for diesel.
That improvement, however, was not enough to offset the surge in international prices.
Slate levy and forecourt wages add to pressure
Local adjustments also contributed to the September fuel price increase.
The slate levy rises by 21.90 cents a litre, from 61.38 cents to 83.28 cents.
The increase follows a negative cumulative balance of about R9.52 billion on the national slate account at the end of July.
Petrol prices also include a 4.9-cent-a-litre increase in the dealer margin, approved to accommodate regulated wage increases for forecourt employees.
The adjustment follows the Motor Industry Bargaining Council (MIBCO) multi-year Wage Settlement Agreement signed in August 2025.
September fuel prices reverse August relief
The latest increase represents a sharp reversal from August 2026 fuel prices.
Petrol prices fell by 52 cents a litre for both 93 and 95 petrol in August, while diesel increased by between R1.23 and R1.38 a litre.
The picture was also dramatically different in June, when diesel fell by R3.25 while petrol increased, shortly after the temporary government fuel levy subsidy ended.
For motorists, that brief period of relief has now given way to steep increases across the fuel basket.
For the latest monthly adjustments, motorists can check the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources fuel price updates.
For a detailed explanation of how the fuel price is calculated, motorists can also consult Shell’s fuel price breakdown.
