South African motorists face another fuel price increase from 4 June 2026, with mid-month tracking pointing to a R2.34 to R2.38 per litre rise on petrol. Diesel is mixed, but Treasury fuel levy relief is being halved from June. The official fuel price June 2026 figures land on Wednesday 3 June.
Also read: Petrol up R2 a litre from 6 May despite extended diesel relief
June 2026 fuel price forecast for petrol
Central Energy Fund mid-month data shows petrol 93 and 95 tracking a R2.34 to R2.38 per litre under-recovery. The under-recovery is the gap between the regulated pump price and the cost to import, refine and distribute the fuel. If the trend holds through month-end, petrol will rise sharply for a second straight month after the R3.27 per litre hike on 6 May.
Diesel outlook for June 2026
Diesel grades are split. Mid-month tracking shows a 51 cent per litre cut on the 0.05% sulphur grade and a 31 cent per litre increase on the 0.005% grade based on current recovery data. The May diesel hike, revised from R6.19 to R5.27 per litre, pushed the wholesale price above R32 per litre for the first time. Fleets, farms and freight operators remain exposed to Brent crude and rand volatility.
Treasury halves the fuel levy relief from June
Treasury extended short-term fuel levy relief in April 2026, cutting the general fuel levy by 300 cents per litre on petrol and 393 cents per litre on diesel from 6 May to 2 June. From June the relief is halved: petrol relief drops to R1.50 per litre and diesel relief drops to R1.96 per litre. The Treasury cut is layered on top of the under-recovery, which means motorists absorb both the global price move and a partial tax restoration in the same announcement.
Why the fuel price keeps climbing
Two forces dominate. The first is the Strait of Hormuz disruption tied to the escalating Iran crisis, which has driven Brent crude from near 93 dollars per barrel to above 101 dollars. The second is rand weakness against the dollar, which inflates the import cost of every litre. Both factors feed directly into the monthly Basic Fuel Price calculation that governs the pump price.
How to track the official June fuel price announcement
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources publishes the official June 2026 fuel price on Wednesday 3 June, with the change taking effect at midnight that night. CEF mid-month and end-of-month snapshots indicate the direction of travel, but the Minister’s announcement is the only binding figure. Coastal and inland prices differ because of distribution costs.
Frequently asked questions
When will the new fuel price for June 2026 be announced?
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources releases the June 2026 fuel price on Wednesday 3 June, effective from midnight that night. Coastal and inland prices differ.
Is the Treasury fuel levy relief ending in June?
No, the relief is being halved, not removed. Petrol levy relief drops from R3 to R1.50 per litre and diesel relief drops from R3.93 to R1.96 per litre from June 2026.
Will the fuel price keep rising in 2026?
The trajectory depends on Brent crude and the rand. Hormuz tensions keep crude elevated. If global supply normalises and the rand strengthens, mid-year cuts become possible. Treasury has not committed to extending levy relief beyond the current window.
Related on Nuusflits
- Petrol up R2 a litre from 6 May despite extended diesel relief
- Diesel fuel levy relief extended for May 2026
- Tank shock: what it costs to fill 6 popular SA cars in May 2026
Sources
Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. National Treasury. Central Energy Fund mid-month data. BusinessTech, Cars.co.za and Stuff South Africa industry tracking, May 2026.
