South Africa’s September fuel price has been confirmed, and diesel is taking the biggest hit. Here’s what the latest increase could mean for truckers and fleets.
Truckers are getting another nasty knock at the fuel pumps, with diesel prices set to increase by almost R3 a litre from Wednesday, 2 September.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has confirmed the September fuel price adjustments, with 0.05% sulphur diesel increasing by R2.94/l and 0.005% diesel by R3.15/l. Petrol prices will also rise by R1.34/l for both 93 and 95.
For truckers running on the more expensive 0.005% diesel, the official wholesale price inland will move above the R30/l mark, reaching R30.05/l.
At the coast, the official wholesale price will rise to R28.79/l.
What does that mean for a truck?
This is where the numbers start getting ugly.
If the full R3.15/l increase is reflected in the price actually paid, a truck taking 1,000 litres would face an additional R3,150 on that fill compared with August.
A truck using 10,000 litres a month could therefore be looking at a potential R31,500 increase in monthly fuel costs if the entire increase flows through to the price paid.
Obviously, actual pump prices can differ because the figures published for diesel are wholesale prices, but the direction is clear: September is going to hurt.
And for an owner-driver or small fleet already operating on tight margins, another R3-plus per litre is no small change.
September fuel prices
Coastal
- 93 petrol: R25.97/l
- 95 petrol: R26.05/l
- 0.05% diesel: R28.24/l wholesale
- 0.005% diesel: R28.79/l wholesale
Inland
- 93 petrol: R26.76/l
- 95 petrol: R26.92/l
- 0.05% diesel: R29.11/l wholesale
- 0.005% diesel: R30.05/l wholesale
The department says the increase was driven largely by higher international oil and petroleum product prices. Average Brent crude increased from $82.37 to $87.88 a barrel during the review period, while global supply concerns and higher shipping costs added further pressure.
The rand provided some relief by strengthening against the US dollar, but it wasn’t enough to offset the increase in international petroleum prices.
The fuel price structure will also include a slate levy of 83.28 cents/l, up from 61.38 cents/l.
For South African truckers, however, the bottom line is simple:
Diesel is getting more expensive again, and every kilometre is about to cost that little bit more.
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