MBABANE (30 SEPTEMBER 2026): The price of fuel is escalating at an alarming pace. With effect from Friday morning, the cost of diesel, petrol and paraffin will each escalate by E3.43 per litre, lifting the price of diesel to E32.25 a litre a shocking first time in history.
Petrol climbs to E29.40 per litre, up from E25.97.
Paraffin is now E25.16, up from E21.73 per litre.
Releasing the new fuel cost, the fuel price controller Lindiwe Mbingo attributed the increase to the escalated global fuel price surges and global supply disruptions, with crude oil prices trading at an average of USD 102 per barrel in September, 2026, compared to an average of USD 89 per barrel realised in the month of August, 2026.
Mbingo who is Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources said the sharp escalation is driven by the persistent geopolitical tensions which have resulted in restriction of shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab Strait, alongside Ukrainian attack on Russian refineries which have resulted in global fuel supply challenges, escalating security and insurance costs.
The price of fuel is the most significant cost driver across all economic and social activity and will be felt at all levels of life.
The new fuel price will kick in only a few hours following an increase in the price of bread which jumps up by 4.23% effective tomorrow (1 October 2026). The bread price was announced by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry after they were approved by the Cabinet last week.
The maximum price for 800g white bread loaf rises by E0.76 cents from E17.90 to E18.66 while a 700g white loaf will rise from E16.36 to E17.05.
That of a 800g brown loaf rises by E0.66 cents from E15.60 to E16.26 and that for a 700g brown loaf will risesfrom E14.64 to E15.26.
The bakers’ association requested the price adjustment following increased production, ingredients, and packaging as well as distribution expenses following the September fuel price increase.
More punishment for consumers is expected from public transport whose operators will certainly also require a public transport fares adjustment.
The escalating cost of fuel and the supply disruption of petroleum products will have a heavy knock-on effect on agriculture at the very delicate grain cultivation season. The price of fertilizers which has more than doubled since the Russia-Ukraine war, is also likely to respond upwards with the new supply disruptions.
It is anticipated that the National Maize Corporation (NMC) which is responsible for the government tractor pool that tills communal land for maize production will likely also rise, significantly threatening the 2026/2027 maize harvest. This harvest is already threatened by an anticipated El Nino induced drought that is predicted to be worse that that of 2015-2016 which had even reached a normally wet Mbabane, forcing the municipality to drill boreholes, distribute drinking water to households.
The trend shows that families are in line for even more pain in the future as the price is on an upward trajectory unless the Persian Gulf conflicts abate. In September the price of petrol increased by E1.30 for the second consecutive month, while that of diesel also increased by E1.35, sending the price rocketing from E27.50/litre to an unprecedented E28.85/litre.
Jm/today/30.09.2026