If you’re a motorist in South Africa, it might finally be time to breathe a small sigh of relief—because things at the fuel pumps are looking up.

After a mix of global drama and currency fluctuations, the forecast for fuel prices next month is actually pretty encouraging.

Let’s break down what’s happening, what’s helping, and how much cheaper things could get soon.

April Brought Lower Prices—and More Good News Is Likely on the Way

Earlier in April, drivers already got a bit of a financial breather as petrol and diesel prices dropped.

That alone was a welcome change after months of ups and downs.

But now, there’s even more positive movement expected.

New data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) suggests that petrol and diesel prices are on track to fall even further when May rolls in—assuming market conditions hold steady for just a little longer.

Global Events Sent Markets on a Rollercoaster Ride

The journey here hasn’t exactly been smooth.

After former U.S. President Donald Trump announced controversial trade tariffs, global markets were shaken.

The rand took a hit initially but has bounced back over the past couple of weeks.

Even better for South Africans, the price of Brent crude oil—the key player behind international fuel prices—has dropped sharply.

And in the world of fuel pricing, cheaper oil almost always spells good news.

Here’s What the Fuel Price Forecast Looks Like

If current trends stay on track, here’s what you can expect at the pump starting early May:

Petrol 93: could drop by 21 cents per litre
Petrol 95: might see a 22-cent decrease
Diesel (both grades): forecasted to drop by 41 cents per litre
Illuminating paraffin: could go down by 31 cents per litre

Of course, these are just predictions—nothing’s final until the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy confirms the new prices, which will take effect at midnight on Tuesday, 6 May 2025.

What Actually Affects Fuel Prices in South Africa?

Two main things shape what we pay for fuel:

The global price of petroleum products, mostly driven by how oil is doing on the international market.
The rand/dollar exchange rate, since we pay for oil in dollars and any weakness in the rand pushes prices up.

As of now, Brent crude oil is trading at $61.84 per barrel, and the rand is holding at R18.40 to the dollar.

If those numbers stay relatively stable, we’re likely to see the projected savings kick in.

What Are You Paying Now?

Just to recap, here are the current April 2025 fuel prices so you can compare:

Inland Prices:

Petrol 93: R21.51
Petrol 95: R21.62
Diesel 0.05%: R19.32
Diesel 0.005%: R19.35
Illuminating Paraffin: R13.35

Coastal Prices:

Petrol 93: R20.68
Petrol 95: R20.79
Diesel 0.05%: R18.49
Diesel 0.005%: R18.55
Illuminating Paraffin: R12.33

So yes—if the forecasts hold up, we could all be saving a little more in May.

Until then, maybe take it easy on the accelerator and get the most out of that current tank.