Daily Brief: Kenya Diesel Surges 19% as Global Supply Fears Bite

Kenya's diesel prices surged 19.1% to $2.239 per liter over the past week, marking the biggest mover among 116 tracked countries, according to Nexignis data. The spike comes amid global oil supply fears linked to Middle East disruptions, as reported by Business Insider Africa and Arise News. In contrast, Kenyan gasoline prices fell sharply, with two grades dropping 17.7% and 16.0% to $1.659 and $1.692 per liter, respectively.

In South Africa, diesel prices declined 14.7% and 12.8% to $1.652 and $1.689 per liter, per the data. This divergence highlights regional disparities, as South Africa also faces fuel price hikes due to Middle East tensions, per Business Insider Africa and Reuters reports. The overall market mood is critical, with Africa seeing both winners and losers from the Iran conflict, according to Al Jazeera.

Looking ahead, Kenya's upcoming EPRA price review, as noted by allAfrica.com, and South Africa's expected June petrol price adjustment, per Business Tech, will be key to watch. Global oil supply dynamics and regional policy responses will likely continue to drive volatility across African fuel markets.