
At the beginning of this month, South Africa was hit by horrendous hikes in both diesel and petrol prices with the cost of diesel for transporters increasing by R2,76 for 500ppm and R2,84 for 50ppm. That raised the inland pump prices to R23,05 and R23,28 respectively. The price of both grades of petrol – 93 and 95 – increased by R1,71 cents per litre. The Central Energy Fund (CEF) attributed the price hikes to rising international fuel prices and the weakened Rand. Here Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association, voices his concern on the negative impacts of the increases not only on truckers but on all consumers.
Prices like these were last seen in June 2022, the first in a four month climb that saw diesel prices reach the lofty heights of R25,74 in November 2022. In July 2022, the price had also reached R25 per litre.
Road freight transporters use both petrol and diesel – but diesel is the main fuel in most road operations. Once fuel prices increase, transporters will need to increase their pricing to cover the increased cost of diesel. While this sounds like an ‘easy’ or simple process, there will be transporters who will not be able to increase costs. Either they are contractually bound or they just price themselves out of the market and thus might not be able to carry on running their businesses.
One of the biggest challenges faced by transporters is the need to fund operations (the use of fuel) while only being paid months after the work has been done – in some cases up to three months afterwards. In the meantime, the next load needs to be moved and that needs fuel for the vehicles. There just aren’t limitless reserves of cash to continue the high level of fuel expenditure against the delayed payment for work already done.
The Road Freight Association (RFA) is hearing from more and more of its members how the fuel cost strain is affecting survival, with more and more businesses in stress/business rescue, while customers reduce volumes that need to be transported or even curtail stock movement (depending on consumer consumption levels).
Transporters will feel this impact on their businesses. Many transporters will not be able to muster the guarantees required for purchasing fuel on credit which is required as customers take up to 90 days to pay after the transport has been provided. In the meantime, the transporter has paid for fuel, paid the driver, covered other costs and still needs to operate a business – while others just don’t have any cash to carry themselves for 90 days.
The continuous increases in the price of diesel inevitably drives the cost of transport and logistics up – step by step. And, with roughly 85% of all goods moved through and around the country having a road leg at some part of the journey, there will be increases to consumers as the cost to transport goods increases.
Fuel breached the 50% mark in daily operating costs during the third quarter of the year. Now, as we head into the final months of 2023 – with this increase the sector is heading towards the 60% level seen during the last months of 2022. That’s a huge increase in cost to company that simply cannot be borne by the company.
That cost will – in most cases – be borne by the consumer who will pay more for, well, everything; from food to fuel, from clothing to electronic goods and everything in-between. Prices will rise, some immediately but more so a domino effect will ensue, the next in a long line of such domino effects that we have seen too often in the last few months.
Transport costs will rise. There is no alternative for transporters and those who cannot afford to carry loads at the rates or prices customers are prepared to pay, will simply close down; more business closures, more unemployment, less business and revenue driven through the transport sub-sector industries and, of course, higher prices at the till.

Consumers have enjoyed – for the first time in the Reserve Bank Repo Rate cycles – a breather with interest rates remaining the same. However these sorts of fuel price increases could wipe out the gains in taming inflation that the Reserve Bank has won. Hopefully the inflation monster will not revive and another reprieve will be afforded to consumers in November.
However, should an interest rate increase occur that, together with transportation costs for goods and services, will grip the consumer in another tight financial squeeze just before the Festive Season where traditionally many retailers have generated income to carry them through the financial year.
This may – as in 2022 – reduce any chance of a bountiful retail season as has been enjoyed in the past and there are many consumers who will stay at home and cut the ‘lavish spending’ associated with the Festive Season.