Cape Town – Motorists can expect another diesel price hike in August, with early data from the Central Energy Fund showing a significant under-recovery that could push diesel prices up by around 60 cents or more.
In contrast, petrol prices may decrease slightly, with an over-recovery of 20 cents for 95 Unleaded and 24 cents for 93 Unleaded.
The potential changes follow July’s increases of 52–55 cents for petrol and 82–84 cents for diesel, which ended a four-month streak of declines.
If current trends hold:
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95 Unleaded may drop to R20.88 at the coast and R21.67 in Gauteng
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93 Unleaded could cost around R21.55 inland
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50ppm diesel might rise to R19.25 at the coast and R20.01 inland
The outlook is shaped by international oil prices and the rand/dollar exchange rate.
While Brent crude oil hovers around $70, tensions in the Middle East—particularly Iran’s standoff with the UN nuclear watchdog—have added volatility.
A stronger rand is cushioning the impact, offering 7–8 cents of relief.