26/03/2026
FUEL PRICE UPDATE – WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON
We want to give you a straight, honest update on the current fuel situation and why prices are moving the way they are.
There’s a lot happening globally right now, and it’s having a direct impact on what we pay for fuel here in South Africa.
Here’s the reality
The ongoing conflict involving Iran, together with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has disrupted one of the world’s most important oil supply routes.
That means:
Less certainty in global supply
Oil prices fluctuating daily
Increased pressure across the entire market
On top of that, fuel is traded in US Dollars, so any movement in the Rand adds further pressure locally.
What this means on the ground
Unlike big oil brands like Engen, Shell, BP, Astron or Total, we don’t operate on fixed supply contracts.
That’s always been a big advantage:
We can buy from multiple suppliers
We negotiate better pricing
We pass those savings directly on to you
But right now, things are different.
All oil companies and importers are rationing stock
No one knows when supply will stabilise
That same rationing is hitting our suppliers, and in turn, us
Sourcing fuel has become incredibly difficult.
We’ve been fortunate to work with suppliers who have gone out of their way to help keep us stocked. We’re genuinely grateful for that.
Pricing pressure
From the second week of March some suppliers introduced surcharges between R1.80 and R4.00 per litre, today we had to pay R10 more than starting price in March.
Up to now
We’ve absorbed as much as possible
We’ve kept increases minimal throughout the month
But that’s no longer sustainable.
Fuel is now being sold to us at these higher replacement prices across the board.
👉 This means we will need to implement a larger price adjustments.
Why some other sites look more stable
Branded sites often have long-term supply contracts, which shield them from short-term spikes.
Our model is different:
It gives you better pricing in normal conditions
But in times like this, we feel the impact immediately
Our commitment
We will keep fuel flowing and avoid stockouts
We will keep prices as fair and controlled as possible
We will keep you informed as things change
We know this isn’t ideal. It’s not where we want prices to be either.
But we’re committed to staying transparent and making sure you always have access to fuel when you need it.
Thanks for your continued support 🙏
Zama Retailers
