The Department of Energy brought smiles to the faces of South African motorists on Tuesday when they confirmed decreases in the petrol and diesel prices for March.
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This is the first month where prices are set to drop after four consecutive months of price increases.
As reported by The South African website, while prices were projected to come down by more, the final price cut saw a drop of seven cents per litre for petrol, and between 18 and 24 cents per litre for diesel.
Those changes will take effect from midnight on Tuesday, 4 March.
Fuel prices were adjusted as follows:
| FUEL | PRICE CHANGE |
| Petrol 93 | decrease of 7 cents |
| Petrol 95 | decrease of 7 cents |
| Diesel 0.05% | decrease of 17.5 cents |
| Diesel 0.005% | decrease of 23.5 cents |
| Illuminating Paraffin | decrease of 6 cents |
The new March 2025 petrol and diesel prices (Inland and Coastal):
| INLAND | February (Old) | March (new) |
| Petrol 93 | R22.16 | R22.09 |
| Petrol 95 | R22.41 | R22.34 |
| Diesel 0.05% | R20.34 | R20.16 |
| Diesel 0.005% | R20.45 | R20.21 |
| Illuminating Paraffin | R14.23 | R14.17 |
| COASTAL | February (old) | March (new) |
| Petrol 93 | R21.37 | R21.30 |
| Petrol 95 | R21.62 | R21.55 |
| Diesel 0.05% | R19.55 | R19.37 |
| Diesel 0.005% | R19.69 | R19.45 |
| Illuminating Paraffin | R13.23 | R13.17 |
The table below shows how much it will now cost to fill up three different tank sizes – from empty – and the saving from February.
The prices used for the exercise are coastal prices.
| Tank | 95 unleaded | Saving | 0.05% diesel | Saving |
| 45 litres | R969.75 | -R3.15 | R871.65 | -R8.10 |
| 60 litres | R1 293 | -R4.20 | R1 162.20 | -R10.80 |
| 80 litres | R1 724 | -R5.60 | R1 549.60 | -R14.40 |
Below, a look at how much it cost in March to fill up the three of the best-selling cars in Mzansi (at the coast):
Volkswagen Polo Vivo – 45 litre: R969.75 for 95 unleaded
Toyota Urban Cruiser – 48 litre: R1 034.40 for 95 unleaded
Toyota Hilux – 80 litre: R1 549.60 for 0.05% diesel and R1 724 for 95 unleaded petrol
FUEL PRICE IN SOUTH AFRICA IMPACTED BY TWO MAIN FACTORS:
1. The international price of petroleum products, driven mainly by oil prices
2. The rand/dollar exchange rate used in the purchase of these products
Oil price
At the time of publishing the brent crude oil price is $70.56 a barrel.
Exchange rate
At the time of publishing the rand/dollar exchange rate is R18.59/$.
Do you know of any useful ways to help save on fuel prices?
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