South Africa's fuel prices to drop (with diesel users to benefit most)...

The Automobile Association of South Africa says “steady declines in international oil prices" have set the stage for fuel price reductions at month end, despite a weakening rand.

"Petrol is currently showing a drop of between 14 and 25 cents a litre, diesel around 55 cents, and illuminating paraffin 66 cents," the AA said, commenting on unaudited mid-month fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund.

The Association added oil's pullback since the start of February had been “quite marked”.

"In the case of illuminating paraffin, the landed price of the fuel dropped by over 90 cents in two weeks. Similar positive effects have been noted on the other main liquid fuels."

However, the rand weakened substantially over the same period, with the moving average against the dollar slipping from just over R14,30 to R14,85.

"This reflects underlying weak economic sentiment in South Africa, and we share the view of many commentators that further weakening is likely," the AA added.

Fortunately, the rand's poor showing was not enough to take the shine off the reduction in the landed prices of fuel. The AA said the trends from now to month-end would determine whether fuel prices could cling on to these gains.

"If the rand continues to slip, we might see some reversal of the trend," it concluded.