{"id":16737,"date":"2026-03-11T21:12:51","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/?p=16737"},"modified":"2026-10-24T14:56:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T12:56:51","slug":"fuel-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/fuel-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Egypt Raises Fuel Prices Again: War Is the Justification, Egyptians Pay the Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Egyptian government <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> on Tuesday morning an increase in the prices of a number of petroleum products and natural gas for vehicles, in a move it <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> comes in light of the exceptional situation resulting from geopolitical developments in the Middle East region and their direct effects on global energy markets.<\/span><\/p>\n

The new increases included<\/a> raising the price of Octane 95 petrol from EGP 21 to EGP 24 per litre, Octane 92 petrol from EGP 19.25 to EGP 22.25, and Octane 80 petrol from EGP 17.75 to EGP 20.75, while the price of diesel rose from EGP 17.5 to EGP 20.5 per litre.<\/p>\n

Likewise, the price of the household butane cylinder rose from EGP 225 to EGP 275, and the 25 kg cylinder from EGP 450 to EGP 550, in addition to raising the price of natural gas for vehicles from EGP 10 to EGP 13 per cubic metre.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Simultaneously, the Petroleum Products Pricing Committee <\/span>decided<\/span><\/a> to raise the prices of natural gas for vehicles and household consumption from EGP 10 to EGP 13 per cubic metre, equivalent to 30%, and the decision included adjusting the prices of natural gas for homes according to the different consumption brackets. <\/span><\/p>\n

The first bracket, which covers consumption of up to 30 cubic metres per month, increased from EGP 5 to EGP 6 per cubic metre, an increase of one pound. The second bracket, ranging between 30 and 60 cubic metres per month, rose from EGP 6 to EGP 8 per cubic metre, an increase of two pounds, while the price of the third bracket, exceeding 60 cubic metres per month, rose from EGP 9 to EGP 12 per cubic metre, an increase of EGP 3.<\/span><\/p>\n

The fuel price increases come<\/a> for the third time within a year, as the Egyptian government had previously raised them in April and October 2025, by a rate of 13%. The increase covered<\/a> Octane 95 petrol (EGP 21\/litre), 92 (EGP 19.25\/litre), 80 (EGP 17.75\/litre) and diesel (EGP 17.5\/litre), in a move it justified by efforts to narrow the gap between local and global prices, and the government promised<\/a> at the time to freeze prices for a full year at least.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Likewise, the Cabinet <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> on Tuesday a package of rationalisation measures within government bodies and some energy-intensive activities, contributing to reducing fuel and electricity consumption in the coming period, along with reviewing operating patterns in a number of projects and services that rely heavily on diesel, fuel oil and petrol.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is in addition to rationalising the consumption of street lighting poles and advertising billboards in streets and public squares, alongside coordination with international partners in the energy sector to ensure regular supplies, in order to contain the repercussions and ensure the stability of energy supplies and local markets.<\/span><\/p>\n

The decisions came as the military escalation<\/a> between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other entered its twelfth day, amid an intensive exchange of air and missile strikes and the targeting<\/a> of Iranian military, oil and nuclear facilities, while the repercussions of the conflict extended to more than 12 countries in the region, including <\/a>the Arab Gulf states, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.<\/p>\n

The escalation led to severe disruptions in maritime and air traffic, as the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a quarter of global oil trade passes, became<\/a> almost closed to commercial shipping, with traffic declining by as much as 70\u201390%, and security risks pushed major shipping companies to divert their routes around the Cape of Good Hope, which increases journey times by about 10 to 15 days and raises costs significantly.<\/p>\n

This coincided with Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait obstructing<\/a> shipping traffic, which caused a rise<\/a> in global energy and shipping prices, amid fears<\/a> of worsening shortages of raw materials and delays in industrial and food supplies for weeks or months.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Recommended reading: <\/b>Transport fares in Egypt: The struggle between fares and fuel<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

An urgent parliamentary move<\/b><\/h1>\n

In an urgent parliamentary move, MP <\/span>Maha Abdel Nasser<\/b>, a member of the House of Representatives for the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, submitted a briefing request to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Petroleum regarding the recent increases in the prices of petroleum products and their impact on citizens, noting that the government raised the price of Octane 80 petrol by 17%, natural gas for vehicles by 30%, household gas by between 20% and 30%, and butane cylinders by 22%, which has caused a state of anxiety among citizens. <\/span><\/p>\n

She questioned the economic and social criteria on which the government based its decision, especially with the global oil price falling to about $90 a barrel, explaining that energy prices have seen major increases since 2014, and calling on the government to clarify the pricing mechanisms, the plans to protect citizens from economic burdens, and the measures taken to limit the impact of these increases on the prices of goods and services.<\/span><\/p>\n

Commenting, she tells Zawia3 that justifying the rise in fuel prices by exceptional circumstances linked to geopolitical factors does not reflect the actual reality, as the increases that prices have seen over the past ten years far exceeded the official justifications; the government does not lower prices when global oil prices fall, and likewise the exaggerated estimates of prices improving after conflicts end are inaccurate and unreliable.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Maha believes that the rise in fuel prices over ten years reflects a clear failure in managing the overall economic file, and that current policies affect all economic sectors, including transport and logistics, which is reflected directly in citizens’ cost of living, explaining that the announced social protection programmes, such as Takaful and Karama and ration cards, are not enough to cover the basic needs of the Egyptian people, that citizens’ purchasing power cannot bear further price increases, and that the street is suffering from great pressure as a result of these policies.<\/span><\/p>\n

On energy rationalisation, she says the government has announced its commitment to it on more than one occasion, but she believes the priority should be to implement effective measures in public buildings, lighting and air conditioning before imposing any pressure on citizens, stressing that regional developments affecting the Egyptian economy do not justify the current policies, which increase citizens’ economic fragility.<\/span><\/p>\n

For his part, Dr <\/span>Freddy El-Bayadi<\/b>, a member of the House of Representatives and Vice-President of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party for International Affairs, affirms that the latest increase in fuel prices, which ranged between 14% and 17%, represents a new episode in economic policies that have placed the greatest burden of crises on citizens since the government of Mostafa Madbouly took power in 2018, explaining that fuel prices have seen major jumps during this period, as Octane 80 petrol rose from EGP 5.50 to about EGP 20.75, Octane 92 to EGP 22.25 and Octane 95 to EGP 24, while diesel rose to EGP 20.50. <\/span><\/p>\n

In a statement, El-Bayadi also warns that the diesel increase directly affects transport and the prices of goods and services, while wages have not kept pace with inflation, announcing that he has submitted a briefing request to hold the government to account over the reasons for the increase, the pricing structure, and the absence of adequate social protection for citizens.<\/span><\/p>\n

The MP revealed that he had submitted a briefing request to hold the government to account over the basis for the latest increase in fuel prices, the total that the public treasury has earned from the successive increases, why the citizen alone bears the cost of regional and international crises, where the promises of social protection have gone, and why the government does not transparently announce the fuel pricing structure, the actual cost, and the taxes and fees imposed on it.<\/span><\/p>\n

El-Bayadi stressed that the government justifies the latest increase by the turmoil in global energy markets, but he emphasised that global crises are not a justification for lifting accountability but a reason to double it, because the real question is not why prices rose globally, but how the government dealt with this crisis, and what it did to protect citizens from its effects instead of transferring them entirely to their pockets.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, El-Bayadi submitted an urgent parliamentary question addressed to the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Petroleum and Electricity, regarding the extent of the government’s readiness to manage the energy file and ensure security of supply in light of the mounting military escalation between Iran, Israel and the United States and its regional spread, and its likely repercussions on the national economy and energy security.<\/span><\/p>\n

He stressed in his question that the region is witnessing an extremely dangerous escalation that is taking it back to what could be described as a “crisis economy”, amid rising navigation risks, shipping and insurance costs, and fluctuations in global energy prices, which imposes direct pressure on the public budgets of energy-importing countries, including Egypt.<\/span><\/p>\n

He pointed out that Egypt’s electricity system is highly sensitive to any disruption in gas supplies, noting that International Energy Agency data show that natural gas accounted for about 76% of electricity generation in Egypt in 2023, which makes any decline in supplies or jump in costs a direct threat to the stability of the electricity grid.<\/span><\/p>\n

He added that Egypt has recently returned to relying increasingly on imports of liquefied natural gas, recording record imports of about 8.92 million tonnes in 2025, with expectations that they will rise to more than 11 million tonnes in 2026, according to international estimates, which reflects the fragility of the balance between supply and demand locally.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Recommended reading: <\/b>Amid the war… Egypt’s economy exposed on all fronts<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Fuel prices raised for the 21st time <\/b><\/h1>\n

Since July 2019, <\/span>fuel prices <\/span><\/a>in Egypt have seen escalating waves of increases: in July 2019 the price of Octane 80 petrol was about EGP 6.75, 92 about EGP 8 and 95 about EGP 9, while diesel prices stood at EGP 6.75, the butane cylinder at EGP 65, and industrial fuel oil at EGP 4,500 per tonne.<\/span><\/p>\n

In October of the same year, the price of Octane 80 petrol fell to EGP 6.50, 92 to EGP 7.75 and 95 to EGP 8.75, with the price of diesel fixed at EGP 6.75 and the price of a tonne of industrial fuel oil reduced to EGP 4,250.<\/span><\/p>\n

During 2020, petrol prices ranged between EGP 6.25 and 6.50 for Octane 80, EGP 7.50\u20137.75 for Octane 92, and EGP 8.50\u20138.75 for Octane 95, while the price of diesel mostly remained at EGP 6.75. However, in the period from April to October 2021, petrol prices began to rise gradually, with Octane 80 reaching EGP 7, 92 EGP 8.25 and 95 EGP 9.25, with diesel fixed at EGP 6.75, a tonne of industrial fuel oil rising to EGP 4,200, and natural gas for vehicles at EGP 3.75 per cubic metre.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2022 the increases continued, with Octane 80 ranging between EGP 7.25 and 8, 92 between EGP 8.50 and 9.25, and 95 between EGP 9.50 and 10.75, while diesel reached EGP 7.25 per litre.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prices soon rose markedly in 2023, with Octane 80 petrol reaching EGP 10, 92 EGP 11.50 and 95 EGP 12.50, while the price of diesel reached EGP 8.25 per litre.<\/span><\/p>\n

Petrol prices saw an accelerating increase in 2024, with Octane 80 reaching about EGP 13.75, 92 about EGP 15.25, 95 about EGP 17 and diesel EGP 13.50, while the price of industrial fuel oil reached EGP 9,500 and vehicle gas EGP 7 per cubic metre.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fuel prices jumped twice in 2025: the price of a litre of Octane 95 petrol rose to EGP 19 in April, a litre of Octane 92 reached about EGP 17.25 and a litre of Octane 80 around EGP 15.75, while diesel stood at EGP 15.50 per litre, the price of vehicle gas held at EGP 7 per cubic metre, and the price of industrial fuel oil at EGP 10,500.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prices of 12.5 kg household butane cylinders ranged between EGP 150 and 200, and commercial cylinders between EGP 300 and 400, with the price of fuel oil supplied to electricity and food industries kept unchanged.<\/span><\/p>\n

In October 2025, prices saw a new increase, with Octane 95 petrol reaching EGP 21, Octane 92 EGP 19.25, Octane 80 EGP 17.75 and diesel EGP 17.50, while the price of vehicle gas rose to EGP 10 per cubic metre, in a move reflecting continued pressure on energy prices in the local market.<\/span><\/p>\n

On 10 March this month, the latest increase was applied, with Octane 80 reaching about EGP 20.75, 92 about EGP 22.25, 95 about EGP 24 and diesel EGP 20.50, while the price of natural gas for vehicles rose to EGP 13 per cubic metre.<\/span><\/p>\n

Petrol prices in Egypt, 2019 to 2026<\/figcaption>

Price per litre after each pricing committee meeting, official data<\/p>

<\/div>
<\/div>
Date<\/th>Petrol 80<\/th>Petrol 92<\/th>Petrol 95<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
2019-07-05<\/td>6.75<\/bdi><\/td>8<\/bdi><\/td>9<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2019-10-03<\/td>6.5<\/bdi><\/td>7.75<\/bdi><\/td>8.75<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2020-01-02<\/td>6.5<\/bdi><\/td>7.75<\/bdi><\/td>8.75<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2020-04-10<\/td>6.25<\/bdi><\/td>7.5<\/bdi><\/td>8.5<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2020-07-08<\/td>6.25<\/bdi><\/td>7.5<\/bdi><\/td>8.5<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2020-10-08<\/td>6.25<\/bdi><\/td>7.5<\/bdi><\/td>8.5<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2021-01-01<\/td>6.25<\/bdi><\/td>7.5<\/bdi><\/td>8.5<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2021-04-23<\/td>6.5<\/bdi><\/td>7.75<\/bdi><\/td>8.75<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2021-07-23<\/td>6.75<\/bdi><\/td>8<\/bdi><\/td>9<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2021-10-08<\/td>7<\/bdi><\/td>8.25<\/bdi><\/td>9.25<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2022-02-04<\/td>7.25<\/bdi><\/td>8.5<\/bdi><\/td>9.5<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2022-04-15<\/td>7.5<\/bdi><\/td>8.75<\/bdi><\/td>9.75<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2022-07-13<\/td>8<\/bdi><\/td>9.25<\/bdi><\/td>10.75<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2023-03-02<\/td>8.75<\/bdi><\/td>10.25<\/bdi><\/td>11.5<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2023-11-03<\/td>10<\/bdi><\/td>11.5<\/bdi><\/td>12.5<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2024-03-22<\/td>11<\/bdi><\/td>12.5<\/bdi><\/td>13.5<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2024-07-25<\/td>12.25<\/bdi><\/td>13.75<\/bdi><\/td>15<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2024-10-18<\/td>13.75<\/bdi><\/td>15.25<\/bdi><\/td>17<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2025-04-11<\/td>15.75<\/bdi><\/td>17.25<\/bdi><\/td>19<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2025-10-17<\/td>17.75<\/bdi><\/td>19.25<\/bdi><\/td>21<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr>
2026-03-10<\/td>20.75<\/bdi><\/td>22.25<\/bdi><\/td>24<\/bdi><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>
Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, fuel pricing committee<\/span>