South Africa fuel prices November 2026: Diesel falls R1.20, paraffin rises
Archive photograph of a Sasol filling station in Boksburg, 2009. Photo: Part Time Security / Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
From 4 November, diesel falls by up to R1.20 a litre while petrol slips by only one cent. Households using paraffin and LPG face increases, even as temporary tax relief begins.
South Africa fuel prices November 2026 move in sharply different directions from Wednesday, 4 November. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources confirmed a small petrol reduction, a larger diesel cut and higher prices for paraffin and cooking gas.
The changes take effect from 00:01. The official schedule gives wholesale diesel and paraffin figures; forecourts set the final retail price for diesel.
South Africa fuel prices November 2026: the full changes
The department’s November adjustment sets the following changes:
| Fuel | Change from 4 November |
|---|---|
| Petrol 93 and 95 | Down 1 cent per litre |
| Diesel 0.05% sulphur | Down 109.82 cents per litre |
| Diesel 0.005% sulphur | Down 119.82 cents per litre |
| Illuminating paraffin, wholesale | Up R2.75 per litre |
| LPG, maximum retail price | Up R1.83 per kilogram |
| LPG, Western Cape | Up R2.08 per kilogram |
For petrol buyers, the one-cent change barely shifts a household budget. The Rekord price table puts 95 petrol at R30.24 a litre inland and R29.37 at the coast. Diesel prices are reference wholesale amounts, so drivers should compare the price displayed by their regular station.
Why diesel falls while paraffin rises
The monthly review reflects international fuel costs, the rand-dollar exchange rate and the slate levy. The department said Brent crude averaged US$108 a barrel during the review period, up from US$101, while the rand weakened from R16.21 to R16.55 per US dollar.
Those movements lifted the basic fuel price contribution for petrol, diesel and paraffin. International middle-distillate prices also rose as global supply tightened and seasonal demand increased ahead of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the department said in its price explanation.
A separate slate levy increase adds 48.18 cents per litre, bringing it to 135.84 cents. The government’s temporary general fuel levy cut starts on the same date, reducing the levy by R1.50 a litre for petrol and R3 for diesel through 1 December. Higher underlying costs absorbed most of that support in the petrol figure, while diesel still records a larger net reduction.
The result matters because a tax cut and a final pump-price change measure different parts of the bill. The levy lowers one component; global product prices, exchange rates and the slate balance shape the rest.
READ ALSO: South Africa fuel levy relief: November dates and savings
What drivers and households should do
Motorists can check the grade and price at the pump before filling up on Wednesday. Drivers who use diesel should compare nearby forecourts, as wholesale reductions flow through to retail prices at different rates and stations may apply different margins.
Households using paraffin should plan for the R2.75-per-litre wholesale rise, which can affect local retail prices after distribution and retailer costs. LPG users in the Western Cape face the largest listed increase, at R2.08 per kilogram; elsewhere the maximum retail price rises by R1.83.
For a quick budget check, multiply the change by the amount bought: a 50-litre petrol fill saves 50 cents at the regulated price, while 50 litres of wholesale diesel at the larger cut represents about R59.91. A 9-kilogram LPG cylinder at the standard increase adds about R16.47 before any local retailer difference.
The earlier levy schedule remains useful for separating the temporary tax relief from the monthly adjustment. The two measures begin together on 4 November, while the tax reduction changes again from December.
South Africa fuel prices November 2026 FAQs
When do the November fuel changes start?
The new rates take effect from 00:01 on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
How much will diesel fall?
The wholesale reference price falls by about R1.10 a litre for 0.05% sulphur diesel and R1.20 for 0.005% sulphur diesel. Retail prices vary by station.
Why is paraffin getting more expensive?
International paraffin prices and the rand’s weaker average exchange rate raised the basic fuel-price contribution, according to the department.
Does the levy relief still apply?
Yes. From 4 November to 1 December, the general fuel levy is reduced by R1.50 a litre for petrol and R3 for diesel, alongside the monthly price changes.