Expect a huge petrol price increase — at least R1.20 per litre

East Cape Fuels has revealed its estimated mid-month fuel price adjustment for March 2022, and it’s bad news at the pumps, with a considerable price hike projected for all grades of petrol, diesel, and paraffin.
Drivers of petrol will see unleaded 93 and 95 climb R1.23 and R1.24 per litre, respectively.
However, diesel vehicle owners will be hit the hardest once again, as they can expect 50ppm diesel to increase R1.37 per litre.
The price changes are as follows:
- 93 unleaded petrol — R1.23 increase
- 95 unleaded petrol — R1.24 increase
- 50ppm diesel — R1.37 increase
- Illuminating paraffin — R1.31 increase
East Cape Fuels is a petroleum supplier that provides mid-month price estimates. While it has often underestimated the actual price increase, it has rarely overestimated it.
With these estimated increases, unleaded 93 and 95 will cost R21.12 and R21.38 per litre, respectively.
The price of diesel will rise to R19.44 per litre.
These price increases could have a cascading effect in South Africa.
According to the programme coordinator for the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group, Mervyn Abrahams, the fuel price increases experienced in 2021 had already hiked food costs by 8.6%.
One development that could help motorists at the pumps, BusinessTech reported, is that this year could see a shift in trends regarding fuel taxes.
BNP Paribas South Africa senior economist Jeff Schultz explained that finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s assertion that fuel prices should be re-assessed could mean fuel taxes won’t rise sharply.
“Fuel and road accident fund levies have historically seen above-CPI increases,” Schultz said.
“However, this time could prove different given finance minister Godongwana’s assertion that the structure of South Africa’s fuel price should be re-assessed as consumers are grappling with record fuel prices and taxes and levies currently accounting for a third of domestic fuel costs.”
“Any decision will have to be carefully considered, though, given the general fuel levy alone brings in more than 1% of GDP in annual revenues, while the road accident fund has a growing claims backlog,” he added.
The table below shows how much motorists with various tank sizes can expect to pay to fill up with unleaded petrol or diesel, based on the estimated price increases.
Cost to fill typical vehicle tanks | |||
---|---|---|---|
Tank size | February 2022 | March 2022 | Increase |
Unleaded 93 | |||
45 litres | R895.05 | R950.40 | R55.35 |
60 litres | R1,193.40 | R1,267.20 | R73.80 |
80 litres | R1,591.20 | R1,689.60 | R98.40 |
Unleaded 95 | |||
45 litres | R906.30 | R962,10 | R55.80 |
60 litres | R1,208.40 | R1,282.80 | R74.40 |
80 litres | R1,568.80 | R1,710.40 | R141.60 |
50ppm diesel | |||
45 litres | R813.15 | R874.80 | R61.65 |
60 litres | R1,084.20 | R1,166.40 | R82.20 |
80 litres | R1,445.60 | R1,555.20 | R109.60 |