Operators caution of losses as fuel costs hit record levels | The Citizen
crisis The Land Transport Regulatory Authority has warned operators against rushing to increase fares without the agency’s approval
www.thecitizen.co.tzHere’s a concise update on the latest fuel price news in Tanzania.
Core answer
- Recent reports show fuel prices in Tanzania have fluctuated in 2025–2026, with pockets of relief in some months and increases in others, driven by global oil prices and exchange-rate movements. Dar es Salaam has often seen lower pump prices relative to interior towns, but regional differences persist due to transport costs and local EWURA caps [web results summarized below].[1][3][4]
Details and context
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June 2025 relief in Dar es Salaam
- EWURA announced lower retail prices for June 2025 in Dar es Salaam: petrol around 2,885 TZS per litre, diesel about 2,826 TZS, kerosene about 2,877 TZS, marking a noticeable drop from the prior month. This was attributed to softer global oil prices and favorable exchange rates.[3][1]
- Context: price caps and regional variations continued to influence what drivers pay in different parts of the country, with coastal cities generally enjoying lower caps than inland areas.[2]
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December 2025 to early 2026 trends
- EWURA price caps continued to reflect a mix of global oil price movements and local currency dynamics; some inland centres remained more expensive than coastal hubs due to logistics, while coastal hubs like Dar es Salaam tended to be cheaper.[2][3]
- By early 2026, reports indicate mounting pressure from global factors and local exchange-rate volatility, with media noting both relief periods and periods of price pressure. The government signaled policy steps to keep fuel affordable amid price volatility.[8][9]
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Notable patterns across sources
- Coastal cities (e.g., Dar es Salaam) generally experience lower price caps compared with inland/localities, due to proximity to import terminals and lower transport costs; inland towns may see higher caps because of distribution costs.[2]
- Price movements often align with global crude oil trends and the strength of the Tanzanian shilling; when FOB prices fall and the shilling strengthens, local prices ease, and vice versa.[4][5]
Citations
- Dar es Salaam June 2025 prices and EWURA action:,.[1][3]
- Coastal vs inland price dynamics:.[2]
- 2025 price movement themes and explanations (FOB/depreciation):,.[5][4]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent EWURA bulletins and provide a country-wide table of current caps by city, along with a simple chart showing month-to-month changes for your area (New York City).