{
  "id": 12605450,
  "title": "SA’s fuel import bill surges to highest level since 1994",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/sas-fuel-import-bill-surges-to-highest-level-since-1994-12605450",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-07T10:33:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/business/sas-fuel-import-bill-surges-to-highest-level-since-1994/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Africa's fuel import bill reached its highest level since 1994, a direct result of the war in the Strait of Hormuz. In the second quarter of 2026, nearly one in every four rands spent on imports was allocated to crude oil and refined petroleum, a significant increase from 15.9% in the previous quarter. Petroleum products, including diesel, crude oil, and petrol, accounted for about 80% of the combined value of South Africa's five largest imported product categories, amounting to R147 billion or 28% of total imports. This surge in fuel costs has exposed South Africa's vulnerability to international prices, especially as domestic refining capacity has collapsed. The inflation rate in August stood at 4.4%, with fuel costs contributing heavily to this figure. In the second quarter, refined petroleum's share of total imports rose from 12.2% to 19.6%, while crude oil's share increased from 3.7% to 5%. Diesel, in particular, saw a dramatic rise in import value to about R70 billion, double the R35 billion recorded in the same period a year earlier. To ensure fuel supply, South Africa has turned to the US and Nigeria as alternative sources, with the latter's imports more than tripling to approximately R25 billion. Despite the trade surplus with the US, the shift in petroleum imports from the US has displaced traditional Middle Eastern sources, with South Africa now relying more heavily on the US and Nigeria for fuel.",
  "summary": "The country has turned to the US and Nigeria to keep fuel flowing as supplies via the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}