Hong Kong has the highest fuel prices in the world, with prices reaching over $3.00 per litre in 2025 due to high taxes and import costs, and a lack of local refining facilities. Other locations that frequently appear among the most expensive are in Europe, like Iceland at $2.48 per litre. In Africa, the Central African Republic has consistently recorded the highest fuel prices in Africa with prices around $1.858 per litre as of August 2025. Other countries with exceptionally high fuel costs include Senegal at $1.55 per litre, Zimbabwe at $1.48 per litre, and Ivory Coast at $1.39 per litre.
As of October 1, 2025, Malawi could be the highest in terms of fuel pump price in Africa, at about $2 per litre.
Current fuel prices in Malawi
Diesel: MWK 3,500 per litre ($2.00 USD).
Petrol: MWK 3,499 per litre ($2.00 USD).
The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) announced this increase effective October 1, 2025, representing a 33.2% jump.
Background on the price change
The price hikes are a result of increasing global oil prices and the fixation of the official rate of exchange of the Malawian kwacha against the US dollar that is used to compare the prices.
Prior to this increase, the last reported prices were as follows, from September 22, 2025:
Diesel: MWK 2,734 per litre ($1.57 USD).
Petrol: MWK 2,530 per litre ($1.46 USD).
Some local commentators on the local market economy are hopeful that this will be a temporary situation, expecting authorities will devalue the local currency to bring down the dollar price per litre for the fuel pump prices. On the other hand, if the situation remains unchanged beyond the short term, it will scare foreign capital as it will be very costly to do business in Malawi. One would not expect to make a decent return on their investment, in a situation where they spend $2 per litre of fuel.
No comments:
Post a Comment