South African truckers could be facing another painful fuel price increase in October, with diesel and petrol both tracking higher while government says there are currently no new interventions planned to cushion consumers.
Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe told Parliament that no interventions are currently planned, citing continued volatility in petroleum product prices. The department is, however, reviewing the regulatory accounting system used to determine margins across the fuel value chain.
For the road freight industry, the timing is particularly uncomfortable. Diesel is one of the biggest operating costs for a truck, and another sharp increase puts more pressure on fleets already dealing with tyres, maintenance, tolls, wages and other running costs.
October diesel price could go above R32
The current inland wholesale price for 0.005% sulphur diesel is R30.05 a litre, following the steep September increase. The latest Central Energy Fund-linked projections put it at around R32.46 a litre if current market conditions hold.
The 0.05% sulphur diesel price is currently R29.11 a litre and is also projected to move above R31.
These are not yet October prices. The figures can still change as international petroleum prices and the rand move before the official adjustment is announced.
Petrol is also heading higher. Current projections put inland 95 unleaded petrol at roughly R29.33 a litre, compared with R26.92 in September.
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Trucking industry will feel the increase
For truckers, the issue goes beyond what happens at the filling station.
A long-haul truck can burn hundreds of litres of diesel during a single trip. When the price per litre jumps by more than R2, the additional fuel bill quickly becomes a significant cost for operators running multiple vehicles.
Those costs can eventually filter through the transport chain, affecting the price of moving goods and potentially putting further pressure on consumers.
Mantashe said the department has already reviewed the Basic Fuel Price component and is reviewing the regulatory accounting system. That review is expected to be completed in March 2027.
For truckers watching every litre, however, March 2027 is still a long way down the road.
The immediate question is what the official October fuel adjustment will be when the numbers are finalised.
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