Every litre of petrol you buy is shaped by international oil markets, shipping costs, exchange rates, government levies, and industry margins. Here's how it all adds up.
Coastal pump price | R20.30 inland (Gauteng)
Try the Price Calculator ↓Your R19.47 is split between international import costs, government taxes, and industry margins. Here's the breakdown.
From an international refinery to your fuel tank — each step adds cost.
Refined petroleum products are priced at international hubs in the Mediterranean, Arab Gulf, and Singapore. Prices are quoted in USD per barrel.
Tankers ship refined fuel to SA ports. Freight rates are set monthly using the Average Freight Rate Assessment (AFRA). Insurance (0.15%) and ocean loss (0.3%) are added.
At port, wharfage (harbour dues) and demurrage (max 3 days delay charge) are added. Cargo is offloaded into coastal storage terminals.
National Treasury adds the Fuel Levy, RAF Levy, Carbon Tax, Customs Duty, DSML, and Slate Levy on top of the landed cost.
Wholesale margins (oil companies) and retail margins (service stations) are added. These are regulated by the DMRE and adjusted periodically.
The final regulated price is gazetted by the DMRE monthly. No station may charge more. Inland areas pay ~83c more for pipeline/road transport.
The BFP (~51% of the price) is a "deemed import parity price" — it's calculated as if 100% of SA's fuel is imported, even though some is refined locally.
The international benchmark price of refined petroleum at Mediterranean, Arab Gulf, and Singapore refining hubs. Quoted in USD — the biggest single factor.
Cost of shipping fuel by sea tanker to SA. Updated monthly via the Average Freight Rate Assessment (AFRA). Affected by vessel supply, fuel costs, and route risks.
Set at 0.15% of FOB + freight. Covers letters of credit, surveyors' fees, agent fees, and lab testing costs.
A 0.3% allowance for uninsurable losses during transit — evaporation, minor spillage, and measurement discrepancies.
Charges for ship delays at loading/discharge ports. Max 3 days. Rates set by the World Scale Association.
Harbour dues paid to Transnet for using SA port facilities to offload cargo.
Cost of storing fuel at coastal terminals after arrival — tank rental, pumping, and pipeline charges.
Cost of holding inventory: landed cost × 25 days × (prime rate − 2%). Higher interest rates = higher costs.
All USD costs are converted to ZAR using the current Rand/Dollar exchange rate. A weaker Rand means a higher BFP — even if oil prices stay flat.
About 32% of every litre goes to government through various levies. Here's what you're paying and where it goes.
Two forces shape the price: international markets (which SA cannot control) and domestic policy decisions.
Driven by OPEC+ production decisions, geopolitical conflicts, and global economic demand. When Brent crude rises, SA pays more.
A weaker Rand makes dollar-priced oil more expensive in Rands. Even if oil prices fall, a weakening Rand can push the BFP up.
Vessel availability, fuel costs for ships, and geopolitical disruptions to shipping routes all affect freight rates.
The spread between crude oil and refined product prices. Refinery outages or high demand can widen this gap.
National Budget decisions to raise or hold fuel levies. These typically increase annually, adding to the pump price.
Higher interest rates increase the stock financing component of the BFP — the cost of holding fuel inventory.
Inland areas like Gauteng pay ~83c/l more because fuel must be pumped via pipeline or trucked from coastal depots.
When the actual cost differs from the regulated price, the difference accumulates. The Slate Levy recovers or returns this balance.
Multiple government bodies and industry players each control different parts of the price.
This estimator automatically fetches today's Brent crude oil price and USD/ZAR exchange rate to calculate what the pump price should be right now, compared to the current gazetted price.
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