As the battle in the Middle East continues to disrupt international power provide chains, crude oil prices have surged by 13%, placing vital strain on countries, significantly African nations that also rely closely on imports of refined petroleum merchandise.
The improve in crude oil prices has been vital sufficient to set off increased petrol prices in some countries throughout the continent.
For occasion, whereas Nairametrics reported that Kenya’s common petrol worth stood at $1.639 per litre in (*10*), prices elevated by 5.86% to $1.735 in October. In the Central African Republic, petrol prices rose from $1.818 per litre in (*10*) to $1.957 in October.
However, regardless of the surge, information from Global Petrol Prices confirmed that petrol prices in a number of African countries remained under the international common of $1.58 per litre, in line with figures up to date on October 26, 2026.
Here are the 10 African countries with the lowest petrol prices in October, ranked from the tenth-cheapest to the least expensive.
10. Sudan — $1.140 per litre
Sudan, a northeastern African nation bordering the Red Sea to the east and Chad to the west, had a median petrol worth of $1.140 per litre in October.
The nation, which eliminated all subsidies on petrol and diesel in June 2021, now depends closely on imports. Reports by the World Bank confirmed that disruptions affecting the Balila oil area had affected deliveries to the Khartoum refinery, Sudan’s main petroleum refinery, which beforehand accounted for 60% of the nation’s petrol and liquefied petroleum gasoline demand.
However, whereas the worth could seem comparatively low in contrast with the international common, it stays costly for Sudanese customers, significantly given the change charge of roughly 600.21 Sudanese kilos to the greenback.
9. Ethiopia — $1.040 per litre
Ethiopia is amongst the African countries the place petrol prices stay under the international common.
The nation is creating a $2.5 billion refinery able to processing 3.5 million tonnes of crude oil yearly, equal to roughly 70,000 barrels per day. Meanwhile, it’s estimated to import 3.2 million tonnes of gas yearly, making it considered one of the continent’s main gas importers.
However, its comparatively low petrol prices are partly supported by authorities subsidies, which have been expanded in March following the outbreak of the battle in the Middle East.
8. Gabon — $1.012 per litre
To cushion the affect of rising petrol prices, the Gabonese authorities spent roughly $252 million on gas subsidies in the first 9 months of 2026.
However, mounting strain on public funds has prompted the authorities to think about phasing out the subsidy regime. Reports by the Gabon Public Finance Review estimated that gas subsidies price the equal of 1% of the nation’s GDP in 2024.
The battle has additional uncovered the vulnerabilities of the Central African nation. Although Gabon operates a refinery with an annual processing capability of 1 million tonnes of crude oil, it may well solely meet between 50% and 60% of the nation’s home demand for refined petroleum merchandise.
7. Nigeria — $0.992 per litre
Nigeria, which scrapped its gas subsidy regime in 2023, is amongst the African countries the place petrol prices stay under the international common, with its October worth standing $0.588 decrease.
However, home petrol prices have elevated by roughly 85.7%, from round ₦700 per litre earlier than the battle escalated to roughly ₦1,300.
The surge in petrol prices has additionally affected broader power prices, with power inflation greater than doubling year-on-year to 10.85% in (*10*) 2026, up sharply from 4.69% in August.
With crude oil prices rising additional in October, power inflation might stay elevated when the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) releases its subsequent inflation report later this month.
6. Niger — $0.853 per litre
Nigeria’s neighbour, Niger, ranked sixth amongst African countries with the lowest petrol prices in October.
The West African nation adopted a quite protectionist stance in October as considerations grew over disruptions to international petroleum markets.
On Saturday, October 17, Niger’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Abdoulaye Seydou, issued a ministerial order banning the export of premium motor spirit (petrol) and diesel as a part of measures to prioritise home gas provide.
The nation’s petroleum trade is supported by two main state-backed establishments. The Société Nigérienne de Pétrole (SONIDEP), the state-owned petroleum firm, is accountable for buying, storing, distributing and advertising petroleum merchandise, whereas the Société de Raffinage de Zinder (SORAZ) operates the Zinder refinery, which has a processing capability of roughly 20,000 barrels per day.
5. Tunisia — $0.840 per litre
Despite having a refinery with the capability to course of roughly 1.7 million tonnes of crude oil yearly, the North African nation nonetheless imports a lot of its refined petroleum merchandise as a result of native refining capability can’t meet home demand.
However, to maintain petrol prices comparatively inexpensive, Tunisia continues to depend on authorities subsidies. The nation spent roughly 2.427 billion Tunisian dinars, equal to $826 million, on gas subsidies in the first half of 2026. This represented 48.6% of the allocation for gas subsidies beneath its 2026 Finance Law.
4. Egypt — $0.428 per litre
At roughly 72.9% under the international common, Egypt is the African nation with the fourth-lowest petrol worth and the seventh-cheapest globally.
The North African nation operates a number of refineries with a mixed processing capability of greater than 750,000 barrels per day, serving to to strengthen its home refining trade and partly protect it from volatility in the international petroleum market.
However, the nation nonetheless maintains some gas and power subsidies, though it has been steadily decreasing them beneath a long-term reform programme tied to agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
3. Algeria — $0.347 per litre
Like Egypt, Algeria operates a number of oil refineries managed by its state-owned power firm, Sonatrach.
With a mixed refining capability of greater than 16.5 million tonnes yearly, the North African nation is considered one of the few African nations to have achieved relative self-sufficiency in refined petroleum merchandise whereas remaining a web exporter.
Despite its comparatively sturdy home refining capability, Algeria maintains substantial authorities subsidies on gas, electrical energy and pure gasoline, serving to to maintain power prices low for customers.
2. Angola — $0.327 per litre
Angola’s Cabinda oil refinery, which started operations earlier this yr, was constructed at a price of greater than $470 million. The facility has change into a brand new supply of regionally refined diesel for the home market.
However, regardless of being considered one of Africa’s main crude oil producers, Angola nonetheless depends closely on imported petrol and different refined petroleum merchandise.
The nation can also be contemplating a gradual discount of its gas subsidy regime. It has allotted 1.52 trillion kwanzas ($1.66 billion) for subsidies in 2027, lower than half the 3.54 trillion kwanzas projected for gas subsidies alone this yr.
The subsidy regime has helped maintain petrol prices comparatively low, shielding customers from a few of the volatility in international crude oil markets.
1. Libya — $0.023 per litre
Libya has traditionally maintained a few of the world’s lowest petrol prices.
In October, petrol prices in the nation have been roughly 98.5% under the international common, making it not solely the least expensive in Africa but in addition the least expensive globally.
The mixture of considerable crude oil reserves, a number of refineries operated by subsidiaries of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), intensive authorities subsidies and a comparatively small inhabitants has helped maintain petrol prices exceptionally low.
However, sustaining these prices comes at a big fiscal price. Libya spends roughly 60 billion Libyan dinars yearly on gas subsidies, equal to an estimated $7 billion to $10 billion, putting a considerable burden on authorities funds.
