Motorists in Zambia will pay significantly more for petrol and diesel from October 2026 after the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) announced an upward adjustment in national pump prices. The price of petrol has increased by K6.17 per litre, from K25.29 to K31.46 per litre, while diesel has gone up by K6.41, from K26.86 to K33.27 […]

Motorists in Zambia will pay significantly more for petrol and diesel from October 2026 after the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) announced an upward adjustment in national pump prices.

The price of petrol has increased by K6.17 per litre, from K25.29 to K31.46 per litre, while diesel has gone up by K6.41, from K26.86 to K33.27 per litre.

The new fuel prices take effect at midnight on September 30, 2026, and will remain in force until the next scheduled monthly price review.

ERB Board Chairperson James Banda announced the new prices in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

New Fuel Prices for October 2026

Under the revised national uniform pump prices, petrol will now be sold at K31.46 per litre, compared to K25.29 previously.

Diesel will increase to K33.27 per litre, from K26.86.

Meanwhile, the price of kerosene has increased by K2.75, moving from K27.02 to K29.76 per litre.

The price of Jet A-1, used in the aviation sector, has also gone up by K3.14, from K28.71 to K31.85 per litre.

Fuel Previous Price October 2026 Price Increase Petrol K25.29 K31.46 K6.17 Diesel K26.86 K33.27 K6.41 Kerosene K27.02 K29.76 K2.75 Jet A-1 K28.71 K31.85 K3.14

Why Has Fuel Become More Expensive in Zambia?

According to Banda, the latest increase has been driven by several factors, including higher international petroleum prices, depreciation of the Zambian Kwacha and the reinstatement of excise duty.

He said sustained geopolitical tensions in the Middle East placed upward pressure on international petroleum prices during the review period.

During the period under review, the price of petrol increased from US$104.94 to US$121.58 per barrel.

Diesel rose from US$150.92 to US$160.88 per barrel, while kerosene and Jet A-1 increased from US$125.30 to US$144.00 per barrel.

Kwacha Depreciation Also Affected Fuel Prices

The ERB also cited movements in the exchange rate as another factor behind the increase.

Banda said the Zambian Kwacha depreciated against the United States Dollar from K19.28 per US$1 to K19.76 per US$1 during the review period.

Since petroleum products are closely linked to international prices and the US dollar, movements in both global oil prices and the exchange rate can affect the domestic cost of fuel.

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Government Fuel Tax Relief Comes to an End

The latest adjustment also comes after the expiry of fuel tax-relief measures introduced earlier in the year.

Banda said ERB price-smoothing measures, together with the Government’s suspension of excise duty and zero-rating of Value-Added Tax (VAT) from April to September 2026, helped moderate the impact of international price increases on domestic fuel prices.

According to the ERB, these interventions also helped keep Zambia’s petroleum prices among the lowest in the SADC and COMESA regions.

However, the measures also resulted in foregone tax revenue for the Government.

Excise Duty Reinstated in October

Banda said that following the expiry of the tax-relief period in September 2026, the Government resolved to reinstate excise duty from October 2026.

He explained that the measure was intended to mitigate the immediate impact on consumers.

VAT is scheduled to be reinstated on December 1, 2026.

The reinstatement of excise duty, combined with higher international petroleum prices and the depreciation of the Kwacha, contributed to the latest increase in domestic fuel prices.

What the New Petrol and Diesel Prices Could Mean for Motorists

The increase means motorists will now need to spend more to fill their vehicles.

For example, buying 50 litres of petrol at the new K31.46 per litre price would cost K1,573, compared with K1,264.50 under the previous price.

For diesel, 50 litres will now cost K1,663.50, compared with K1,343 previously.

The increase could therefore have implications beyond motorists, particularly because fuel costs can influence transportation and the cost of moving goods and services.

ERB Says Zambia’s Fuel Prices Remain Competitive

Despite the latest increase, Banda said Zambia’s petroleum prices remain competitive within the region.

He said the combination of price-smoothing measures and tax interventions had helped cushion consumers from even higher international petroleum costs during the previous period.

The ERB said the latest upward adjustment was necessary to safeguard security of petroleum supply amid the changing international market conditions.

When Do the New Fuel Prices Take Effect?

The revised national uniform pump prices take effect at midnight on September 30, 2026, meaning motorists will begin paying the new prices from October 1.

The prices will remain in effect until they are superseded by the next scheduled ERB price review.

The ERB said detailed wholesale and pump-price build-ups for October 2026 are available through its official channels.

October 2026 Fuel Prices at a Glance

Petrol: K31.46 per litre
Diesel: K33.27 per litre
Kerosene: K29.76 per litre
Jet A-1: K31.85 per litre

The latest announcement means petrol and diesel prices in Zambia have both increased by more than K6 per litre, marking a significant change for motorists and businesses as the country enters October 2026.
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