South African motorists face another round of fuel price increases in September 2026, with mid-month data pointing to higher prices for petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin.
The latest figures follow a mixed August fuel price picture, when petrol fell by 52c a litre while diesel climbed sharply.
Figures from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) show petrol 93 tracking an increase of about 63c a litre, while petrol 95 is up roughly 74c.
Diesel faces a steeper rise of up to R2.89 a litre, depending on the grade, while illuminating paraffin is tracking an increase of around R2.15 a litre.
What is driving the September fuel price increase?
Ongoing conflict in the Middle East remains the biggest factor behind the looming fuel price hikes.
Disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have kept oil supply routes under pressure, while Brent crude is trading near $88 a barrel after reaching as high as $100 during July.
Diesel has taken the biggest hit from the market pressure. Tight global supplies of middle distillates have pushed diesel under-recoveries well above those for petrol.
A similar pattern emerged in June, when diesel dropped R3.25 while petrol rose R1.43.
Rand offers some relief from higher fuel prices
The rand has provided some relief against the rising international oil costs.
The currency is trading at around R16.20 to the dollar, reducing the fuel under-recovery by roughly 10c a litre.
Investec economists say a peaceful resolution to the Iran conflict could strengthen the rand to around R15.75 to the dollar by the end of the year.
However, a deterioration in relations could put renewed pressure on the currency.
The latest movement echoes July, when petrol dropped R3 despite a fuel levy hike, highlighting how quickly international oil prices, the rand and other factors can change the monthly fuel price outlook.
What September fuel prices could mean at the pumps
If the current CEF figures hold, inland motorists could see 93 petrol rise from R25.42 to about R26.05 a litre, while 95 petrol could increase to around R26.32.
Diesel prices face a much sharper increase, with the wholesale price potentially moving from R26.17 to about R28.90 a litre.
These figures remain provisional. The CEF’s mid-month data can still change before the official announcement, as July demonstrated when the expected increase eventually turned into a decrease.
The final adjustment is calculated using the official DMRE fuel prices, with the new prices due to take effect at midnight on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
Follow NOWinSA’s fuel price coverage for the confirmed September 2026 petrol and diesel prices once the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources releases its final figures at the end of August.
