The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has published the official fuel price adjustments for February 2026, with the new prices taking effect from Wednesday, 4 February. As expected, diesel once again gets cheaper, offering some welcome breathing space for truckers, fleet operators and motorists.
January saw international oil markets trade higher amid heightened geopolitical tension, particularly concerns around possible escalations between the United States and Iran in the Middle East. During the month, oil prices climbed from below $60 a barrel to above $70. This upward pressure was, however, largely offset by a strong rally in the rand, allowing local fuel price recoveries to remain positive.
As a result, petrol prices will drop by 65 cents per litre across both 93 and 95 grades. Diesel users will see decreases of between 50 cents and 57 cents per litre, depending on sulphur content. Illuminating paraffin will also be cheaper, while LPG users face another increase.
Official fuel price adjustments for February 2026
| Fuel | Change |
|---|---|
| Petrol 93 | Decrease of 65 cents per litre |
| Petrol 95 | Decrease of 65 cents per litre |
| Diesel 0.05% (wholesale) | Decrease of 50 cents per litre |
| Diesel 0.005% (wholesale) | Decrease of 57 cents per litre |
| Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale) | Decrease of 53 cents per litre |
| LPGAS (Gauteng) | Increase of 31 cents per kg |
What’s driving the price changes
The average Brent crude oil price increased from $61.47 to $64.08 during the period under review. This was driven by geopolitical uncertainty linked to Iran, Greenland, Kazakhstan and Venezuela, as well as extreme cold weather that disrupted oil production in parts of the United States.
Despite higher crude prices, international refined fuel prices declined due to strong inventory availability. This reduced contributions to the Basic Fuel Price by 36.46 cents per litre for petrol, 24.59 cents for diesel and 21.13 cents for illuminating paraffin.
The rand also played a major role. It strengthened on average against the US dollar from R16.85 to R16.31, cutting fuel costs further by 28.52 cents per litre for petrol, 31.62 cents for diesel and 31.86 cents for illuminating paraffin.
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The slate levy remains unchanged at zero cents per litre, with the cumulative slate balance sitting at a positive R5.064 billion at the end of December 2025.
How prices will reflect at the pumps
Diesel prices reflect wholesale levels; pump prices may differ
Inland prices
| Fuel | January Official | February Official |
|---|---|---|
| 93 Petrol | R20.64 | R19.99 |
| 95 Petrol | R20.75 | R20.10 |
| Diesel 0.05% (wholesale) | R18.41 | R17.91 |
| Diesel 0.005% (wholesale) | R18.52 | R17.95 |
| Illuminating Paraffin | R12.63 | R12.10 |
| LPGAS (per kg) | R34.43 | R34.74 |
Coastal prices
| Fuel | January Official | February Official |
|---|---|---|
| 93 Petrol | R19.85 | R19.20 |
| 95 Petrol | R19.92 | R19.27 |
| Diesel 0.05% (wholesale) | R17.58 | R17.08 |
| Diesel 0.005% (wholesale) | R17.76 | R17.19 |
| Illuminating Paraffin | R11.62 | R11.08 |
| LPGAS (per kg) | R31.17 | R31.48 |
| LPGAS (Saldanha) | R33.22 | R33.58 |
February’s diesel cuts come as a rare bit of good news at the pumps.
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