Petrol price relief still on the cards for June: Here’s what you could be paying

South African motorists have been getting more revs for their money since March this year, with the May drop in petrol and diesel prices being the third consecutive fuel price cut for 2025. 

Should current market conditions persist until the end of May, even more petrol and diesel price gains could be on the cards come June.

The latest unaudited data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) points to a modest over-recovery of about 30 cents per litre in petrol prices and around double that for diesel.

The state of fuel prices at the pumps

South Africans currently pay R21.29 for a litre of 93 unleaded petrol ( ULP) in Gauteng, with 95 ULP retailing at R21.40 inland and R20.60 at the coast.

This follows price cuts of 22 cents per litre for 95 ULP and 21 cents for 93 UPL at the beginning of May, while diesel decreased by between 41 cents (50ppm) and 42 cents (500ppm).

June fuel price: Expected changes in petrol, diesel and paraffin

The CEF, a state-owned energy company reporting directly to the Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, looks at pertinent data such as the exchange rate and global oil prices for its snapshots.

These are the June fuel price projections at mid-month:

• Petrol 93: Decrease of 30 cents per litre.
• Petrol 95: Decrease of 30 cents per litre.
• Diesel 500ppm (wholesale): Decrease of 60 cents per litre.
• Diesel 50ppm (wholesale): Decrease of 61 cents per litre.
• Illuminating paraffin: Decrease of 63 cents per litre.

Main fuel price drivers: Rand/dollar, global oil prices

The most important factors influencing the price of fuel locally are the average rand/dollar exchange rate throughout any given month, as well as the average price of oil in that same period.

Global oil prices have stabilised following a surge last week to around $66 per barrel on the back of tariff tensions between China and the US easing.

Despite a stronger rand coming to the rescue, if oil prices remain at current levels, the fuel price over-recoveries could shrink by month-end to around 15 cents for petrol and 40 cents for diesel.

• At the time of writing on 15 May, the rand was trading at R18.04 against the American greenback.
• The price of Brent Crude Oil stood at $64.44 per barrel.

ALSO READ: Small fuel price decrease no help for consumers in looming rough ride

Official fuel price: Who has the final say

As always, the latest data update comes with the caveat that it is still early in the month, and market conditions can swing before the Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources makes the final announcement at the end of this month.

According to the department, the unaudited CEF snapshots are not predictive and do not cover other potential changes, such as slate levy adjustments or retail margin changes, which could still have a bearing on the final fuel prices.

• The official fuel price adjustments will come into effect on Wednesday, 4 June.

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