Business
DIESEL PRICES SURGE ACROSS AFRICA AS THESE 10 COUNTRIES RECORD THE HIGHEST COSTS
10 AFRICAN COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST DIESEL PRICES IN SEPTEMBER 2026 Diesel prices vary widely across African countries, with some markets record...
By Wavers Multimedia
Diesel prices vary widely across African countries, with some markets recording pump prices significantly above the global average.
Data recorded on 21 September 2026 show that Malawi had the highest diesel price among African countries at $3.38 per litre, while Kenya ranked 10th at $1.73 per litre.
The figures are retail diesel prices expressed in US dollars per litre and provide a snapshot of fuel costs across the continent during September.
MALAWI
Malawi recorded Africa's highest diesel price at $3.38 per litre on 21 September.
The price was more than double the global average of about $1.65 per litre at the time.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
The Central African Republic ranked second, with diesel priced at approximately $2.29 per litre.
The figure placed the country among the African markets with the highest diesel costs during the period.
ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe recorded a diesel price of about $2.19 per litre, making it the third-highest in Africa on the date measured.
The price was also above the global average.
RWANDA
Rwanda ranked fourth at approximately $2.08 per litre.
Its diesel price remained considerably higher than the global benchmark during the September measurement.
LESOTHO
Lesotho occupied fifth place, with diesel selling for approximately $1.98 per litre.
The figure placed the country among Africa's most expensive diesel markets for the period.
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa ranked sixth at about $1.97 per litre.
The country's diesel price was also above the global average recorded at the time.
SIERRA LEONE
Sierra Leone came seventh, with diesel priced at approximately $1.91 per litre.
The figure put the West African country among the 10 African markets with the highest diesel prices in the September data.
SEYCHELLES
Seychelles ranked eighth at around $1.82 per litre.
Its diesel price was higher than those recorded in most African markets included in the dataset.
ESWATINI
Eswatini recorded a diesel price of approximately $1.78 per litre, placing it ninth on the list.
KENYA
Kenya completed the top 10, with diesel priced at approximately $1.73 per litre.
Although lower than the prices recorded in the nine countries above it, Kenya's figure remained above the global average for the period.
WHAT THE FIGURES SHOW
The September data highlight substantial differences in diesel prices across African markets.
Diesel is an important fuel for road transportation, agriculture, industry and backup power generation. As a result, differences in fuel prices can affect operating costs for businesses and households.
Fuel prices can also change over time because of factors including international oil prices, exchange rates, taxation, transportation costs and domestic pricing policies.
The figures highlight the wide differences in diesel prices across African countries, with costs varying significantly from one market to another.