Malawian motorists greeted Fools Day with 35% fuel prices hike

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawian motorists will continue to deepen their pockets to access fuel following prices increases by 35% effective April 1, 2026.

Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) justified fuel prices increase being attributed to global tension in the middle East.

This means Petrol and diesel prices have been increased from MK4,965 to MK 6,672 and MK4,945 to MK6,687 representing 34% and 35% respectively.

The fuel prices increase come barely three months when similar adjustments were made on January 20, 2026.

The energy regulator statement reads signed by board chairperson Lucas Kondowe, “MERA considered the recommendations of its Energy Pricing Committee (EPC), which met on 25th March 2026, to review the petroleum prices. Since the last pump price adjustment on 20th January 2026, the average Free on Board (FOB) prices of Petrol and Diesel have increased by 42% and 87%, respectively, compared to the average prices obtained in January 2026, which were used to determine the ruling pump prices.

“The FOB in March 2026 (daily average trading prices), road freight rates, railage, insurance, handling, and in-transit losses (Inbound Landed Costs “IBLC”) plus levies and margins yielded the following recommended pump prices.

Kondowe adds, “Under the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM), both petrol and diesel qualify for price revision as the IBLC increase was greater than ±5% trigger band.

“Therefore, the pump prices of both petrol and diesel have been adjusted upwards as per the table above, effective 00:01 Hours on 1st April 2026”.

MERA explains further, “By law, all retail operators are required to sell Petrol and Diesel at prices not exceeding the above regulated approved maximum pump prices”.

The regulator adds, “The conflict in the Middle East continues to exert upward pressure on the world prices of petroleum products. Traditionally, suppliers’ prices are based on previous months’ published average prices.

“But due to the volatile price environment, all suppliers are currently demanding and using averages for a fortnight in the current month. This pricing methodology is temporary due to the Middle East conflict and the resulting disruption it has caused to the supply chain”.

Meanwhile, MERA is expected to address the press the matter in details this morning.

Lloyd M’bwana

I’m a Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resource (LUANAR)’s Environmental Science graduate (Malawi) and UK’s ICM Journalism and Media studies scholar. Also University of Malawi (UNIMA) Library Science Scholar. I have been The Malawi Country Manager and duty editor for the Maravi Post since 2019. My duty editor’s job is to ensure that the news is covered properly, that it is delivered on time, and that it is created to the standards set out in the editorial guidelines of the Maravi Post.