For now, it looks like fuel prices might be cut in November
Based on the current oil, international fuel and rand prices, the latest data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) shows that petrol prices could be cut by around R1.90 a litre in November, while diesel prices could be lowered by between 69c and 75c a litre.
However, there are still more than two weeks to go before the final prices are set. Fuel prices will only be adjusted on 1 November.
South African fuel prices are largely determined by international oil costs and the rand exchange rate, as oil is priced in dollars.
Oil prices have been extremely volatile as fighting between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza continued.
A wider war in the oil-rich Middle East risks hitting supplies, which could push prices higher. However, a war could also tip the world economy into recession, cooling demand for fuel.
In the first half of October, the Brent crude oil price averaged $87.50 a barrel, compared to an average of $92.60 in September, says Annabel Bishop, group chief economist at Investec.
International petroleum product prices used in South Africa are substantially lower to date in October than September, she added.
"On a rand basis, too, oil prices are lower to date in October, averaging R1 665/barrel for October, compared to September’s first half of the month, which saw the rand Brent crude oil price average R1 715/barrel."
After briefly weakening to above R19.50/$ last week, the rand was trading at R18.77/$ on Monday afternoon. It started the month at R18.90.
Fuel prices have seen large hikes in recent months, due in most part to a rally in oil prices. Petrol (95 unleaded) now retails for R25.68 a litre in Gauteng, from R21.40 at the start of 2023. The wholesale price of diesel in Gauteng is now R25.01 a litre, from R19.31 as recently as June this year.
Comments
The
content
you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.
If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.
If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.
For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation