Business

69 Cents a Litre: Why Fuel Prices Still Hit South African Drivers Hard in 2025

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2 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Chiraag

South Africa fuel prices, diesel price increase, petrol price 2025, Johannesburg fuel stations, cost of living South Africa, Joburg ETC

A year that felt heavier than it looked

For many South African drivers, 2025 felt like a long, slow bleed at the pumps. Every fill-up came with a quiet calculation, a wince at the card machine, and a sense that fuel prices were doing their own thing regardless of what was happening in the world.

Yet when the numbers are added up from December 2024 to December 2025, the story is more complicated. Petrol users ended the year only marginally worse off, while diesel drivers carried the real burden. The difference comes down to policy decisions, global shocks, and the type of fuel flowing into your tank.

Petrol drivers got off lightly

Petrol prices told a surprisingly calm story by year-end standards. Motorists using 93 petrol saw prices edge up by just 11 cents per litre over the year, moving from R21.15 to R21.26. For a standard 50 litre tank, that meant paying about R5.50 more than a year ago.

Those using 95 petrol actually caught a small break. Prices dipped by six cents per litre, settling at R21.41 in December. That works out to roughly R3 less per full tank. Not exactly a victory, but enough to soften the blow in a year when everything else felt more expensive.

Diesel drivers felt every cent

Diesel users were not so lucky. The fuel that powers delivery fleets, taxis, bakkies, and generators proved far more sensitive to the chaos of 2025.

Diesel with 0.5 percent sulphur climbed by 57 cents per litre, ending the year at R19.78. The biggest shock came from the cleaner 0.05 percent sulphur diesel, which jumped by 69 cents per litre to R20.02.

In everyday terms, a diesel driver filling a 50 litre tank paid between R28.50 and R34.50 more than they did a year earlier. For small businesses, commuters, and anyone reliant on diesel to earn a living, that increase landed hard.

Why prices swung so wildly

Fuel prices in South Africa move with two main forces: global oil prices and the rand-dollar exchange rate. In 2025, both were on a rollercoaster.

Oil prices started the year near 80 dollars a barrel, driven by geopolitical tensions, tight supply, and lingering uncertainty. As the year unfolded, supply began to outpace demand. This shift accelerated after the return of Donald Trump to the White House and the launch of a global tariff war, which slowed demand in major economies just as producers increased output.

By mid-year, oil prices had dropped below 60 dollars a barrel. Across 2025, prices averaged around 68 dollars, trending lower toward December.

At the same time, the rand surprised many. It opened the year weak, touching R18.99 to the dollar, then strengthened as the dollar lost ground. Local instability briefly reversed those gains during tense moments, including political strain within the Government of National Unity and clashes between the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance. Even so, the rand ended the year stronger than expected.

Under normal circumstances, cheaper oil and a firmer rand should have delivered noticeable fuel relief.

The levy that tipped the scales

That relief never fully arrived. In the May 2025 budget, the government raised the general fuel levy by 15 cents per litre. That single decision ensured motorists paid more overall, despite favourable global conditions.

For many drivers, this is where frustration peaked. Social media chatter throughout the year reflected a familiar sentiment: how can fuel prices still go up when oil is cheaper and the rand is stronger? The answer lay not in global markets, but in domestic policy.

What this means going into 2026

Analysts expect global oil markets to remain weak, with supply gluts forecast beyond 2025. On paper, that should support lower fuel prices. Whether drivers actually feel that relief will depend heavily on exchange rate stability and future tax decisions.

For now, 2025 will be remembered as a year where petrol prices mostly held their nerve, diesel took a beating, and motorists were reminded that fuel costs in South Africa are shaped as much in Parliament as they are on the world stage.