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The latest data suggests that South Africa’s motorists are almost certainly in for a fuel price hike in early November 2024.
Worsening daily
As reported by The South African website, petrol and diesel vehicle owners in Mzansi enjoyed a cut in the cost of petrol and diesel earlier this month.
It was the fifth straight month of decreases in prices.
However, that ‘run’ appears likely to end next month.
The numbers are rapidly worsening by the day, with still three weeks remaining.
This is due to a combination of the rand depreciating against the dollar and the price of oil continuing to rise thanks to ongoing unrest in the Middle East.
Below, the latest projections as received by The South African website from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), effective Friday, 11 October.
| FUEL | PRICE CHANGE |
| Petrol 93 | decrease of 4 cents |
| Petrol 95 | increase of 6 cents |
| Diesel 0.05% | increase of 8 cents |
| Diesel 0.005% | increase of 7 cents |
| Illuminating Paraffin | increase of 2 cents |
If the market conditions were to remain consistent for the remainder of the month – an unlikely scenario with the rand/dollar exchange rate ever fluctuating and the oil price changing – a decrease of 4 cents is expected for petrol 93 octane motorists and an increase of 6 cents for 95 users.
Meanwhile, diesel motorists would see something between a 7 and 8 cents per litre increase.
Finally, illuminating paraffin is expected to increase by 2 cents.
FUEL PRICE IN SOUTH AFRICA IMPACTED BY TWO MAIN FACTORS:
1. The international price of petroleum products, driven mainly by oil prices
2. The rand/dollar exchange rate used in the purchase of these products
Oil price
At the time of publishing the brent crude oil price is $78.01 a barrel.
Exchange rate
At the time of publishing the rand/dollar exchange rate is R17.46/$.
The final overall price changes for both petrol and diesel will be confirmed in the weeks ahead with the new prices taking effect at midnight on Tuesday, 5 November.
Go easy on the accelerator until then, Mzansi.
The current October 2024 petrol and diesel prices (Inland and Coastal):
| INLAND | October |
| Petrol 93 | R20.73 |
| Petrol 95 | R21.05 |
| Diesel 0.05% | R18.45 |
| Diesel 0.005% | R18.57 |
| Illuminating Paraffin | R12.66 |
| COASTAL | October |
| Petrol 93 | R19.94 |
| Petrol 95 | R20.26 |
| Diesel 0.05% | R17.66 |
| Diesel 0.005% | R17.81 |
| Illuminating Paraffin | R11.66 |