- Global diesel prices rose month-on-month, increasing from an average of $1.44 per liter last month to $1.57 currently.
- Diesel prices recorded increases in Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Gabon, and Niger.
- Prices remained unchanged in Libya, Angola, and Sudan during the same period.
- Madagascar entered this month’s list, replacing the Democratic Republic of Congo from the previous month.
At the most fundamental level, cheaper fuel lowers the cost of transportation, which is crucial in economies that rely largely on roads.
Many African countries rely heavily on diesel-powered trucks to transport commodities, which means that the price has a direct impact on the cost of food, raw materials, and completed products.
When diesel prices fall, transportation costs fall, which swiftly translates into reduced consumer pricing and higher profit margins.
Low diesel costs are crucial to stabilizing African economies, especially at a time when global energy markets are being affected by the ongoing war in Iran and the associated volatility in the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit that handles nearly one-fifth of world oil shipments.
The fighting has pushed worldwide oil prices considerably higher, with estimates indicating that Brent crude temporarily surpassed $110-$120 per barrel during peak interruption hours, before fluctuating as markets reacted to supply uncertainty and geopolitical risk.
For import-dependent African economies, this instability has translated into sharp diesel price surges, with rises of up to 30-70% in certain nations.
In this scenario, lower diesel prices provide quick and measurable benefits.
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Diesel is the backbone of transport, logistics, and power generation in much of Africa; thus, even tiny fuel cost reductions can drastically reduce the cost of transporting goods and running enterprises.
Recent disruptions have demonstrated how fast high diesel prices lead to inflation, with transportation fares and food costs rising as a direct result of fuel shocks.
Some countries have already attempted to mitigate the effects of the current fuel shortages caused by the Iran-related disruption.
Namibia decreased fuel levies to help alleviate rising pump prices, as seen on Reuters.
Others, such as Nigeria, have relied on domestic refining capacity, notably an expansion of the Dangote refinery’s production, to alleviate regional supply constraints.
With that said, here are the African countries with the cheapest diesel in April 2026, per data seen on GlobalPetrolPrices.
Compared to diesel prices last month, when the global average price of diesel was 1.44 U.S. dollars per liter, as opposed to $1.57 currently, diesel prices for Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Gabon, and Niger increased.
While diesel prices for Libya, Angola, and Sudan remained unchanged.
Madagascar this month ousted the Democratic Republic of Congo from last month’s list.
