The Department of Mineral Resources & Energy shared mixed news about fuel prices for October 2025. They announced that oil prices would go up while diesel costs would drop. These changes were set to start on the first Wednesday of October. The updates came from watching global oil markets and changes in the exchange rate between South African rand and US dollars.
Diesel Costs Drop for October 2025
Gas prices often go up in October. This time they raised prices by R0.34 for 93-octane and R0.48 for 95-octane gas in different areas. This is the third price increase in four months. These changes hurt both regular people and businesses. The DMRE says the price went up because global oil prices are higher. Oil now costs about $92 per barrel compared to $86 in September. The prices are also going up because of problems with oil supply around the world and political issues in countries that produce oil.
Major Relief for Motorists as Diesel Falls
Diesel prices are going down. The Minister of Minerals and Energy announced a price drop between R0.27 and R0.42 per liter. This is good news because transport farming and manufacturing depend a lot on diesel. The price drop happened because global diesel production was low in September and worldwide supplies were not looking good. Experts say this price cut will help control food and shipping costs. However the savings might not matter much since regular gas prices are going up for everyday drivers.
Paraffin & LPG Gas Price Changes Announced
The price of lighting paraffin has dropped by 15 cents per liter. This is good news for families who need paraffin in their homes. However LPG costs are going up because shipping and import fees are more expensive. The lower paraffin price will help poor households save some money on their energy bills. Many of these families are struggling to pay for basic needs. This small price drop gives them a bit of relief during tough times.
Rand Fluctuations Driving Fuel Price Shifts
The Rand’s performance against the US dollar played a big role in October’s fuel price changes. Last month the Rand traded at about 18.72 to the dollar. This was a bit weaker than September’s rate. Since we buy fuel in dollars the weak Rand made the diesel price cut smaller than expected. It also pushed up the petrol price more than it would have with a stronger currency. The exchange rate affects fuel prices because South Africa needs to convert local money to dollars for these purchases.
Economic Outlook: How Fuel Costs Shape Daily Life
The fuel price problems in October show how unstable South African fuel prices can be. People who buy fuel often suffer from global oil market changes and shifts in foreign money values. When petrol gets more expensive people spend more on transport & have less money to use for other things. Some good news is that lower diesel prices help businesses save money on their running costs. But if petrol prices keep going up, experts think we’ll see higher prices for many things in the next few months.
