Why Are Petrol Prices High?

What affects your petrol price

Follow the price from international fuel costs to the local bowser, then check current station reports before filling.

High petrol prices rarely have one cause. International fuel costs and exchange rates shape the wholesale starting point; tax treatment, freight, station costs, retail cycles and local competition shape the final price.

International fuel prices and the dollar

Petrol prices in Australia are influenced by international refined-fuel benchmarks and exchange rates. Retail prices do not move by a fixed amount or after a fixed delay, so compare dated wholesale and retail figures.

Published wholesale benchmark

The terminal-gate price (TGP) is a published wholesale benchmark for fuel collected at the terminal, currently around 225.2 c/L. Australian AIP figures include fuel excise and GST. Transport from the terminal and retail operating costs come later.

Retail petrol cycles

Regular unleaded prices in several capital cities can rise sharply during a reset and then ease. Cycle length changes by city and over time, so use the current chart instead of relying on a fixed weekday.

Fuel taxes

Fuel excise and GST are already included in the Australian terminal-gate benchmark. Adding them again would double-count tax. Current rates can change, so this page does not use a fixed cents-per-litre tax figure.

Transport, station costs and local competition

Freight from the terminal, station operating costs, brand pricing and nearby competition can all affect the pump price. A national or city average can compare one area with another, but it is not the price at a particular bowser.

What the numbers on this page mean

These figures describe different parts of the market. Compare the same fuel grade and a similar observation period.

How to interpret the fuel-price figures shown for Australia
Figure	Current value	What it describes	Important limit
Australia retail average	240.9 c/L	The mean of the included station reports for the selected market and fuel grade	It is not a price available at every station
Terminal gate price (TGP)	225.2 c/L	A published wholesale benchmark for fuel collected at the terminal	It does not include later transport and retail operating costs
Retail–TGP gap	+15.7c/L	The arithmetic difference between the displayed retail average and TGP	It is not a retailer-profit figure

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FuelRadar app Today screen with the fill-up call for Brisbane and the cheapest Unleaded 91 within 15 km

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Australia prices

Why petrol prices are high in Australia

What's happening in Australia

Petrol is averaging about 240.9c/L in Australia, about 15.7c/L above the terminal-gate benchmark. Wholesale costs have risen about 3.2c/L over the last five days. Track the price cycle to see where the market sits before you fill up.

Sources and limits

Sources, freshness and limits

Sources

Freshness

Read the date on wholesale and market figures and the source report time on station prices. The series update on different schedules and should not be treated as simultaneous unless their dates align.

Limitations

A wholesale move does not reach every station by a fixed amount or after a fixed delay.
A city or national average can compare areas, but it is not a price available at every bowser.
Forecasts and cycle charts describe possible market direction, not the next price at one station.

Why petrol prices are high: questions

Why are petrol prices so high?

The national retail average is about 15.7c/L above the terminal-gate benchmark, which suggests the market may be in a dearer part of the cycle. Your price is built from the global crude oil price and the AUD/USD exchange rate, the wholesale terminal-gate price, the retail price cycle, fuel excise plus GST, and how much competition there is near you.

Why did petrol prices go up today?

Wholesale costs have risen about 3.2c/L over the last five days, which feeds through to the bowser with a short lag. It rarely reflects an overnight change in oil costs alone.

Will petrol prices go down soon?

In most capital cities prices fall gradually after each reset until the next cycle low. Check the price-cycle position and the best-day-to-buy timing for your city before filling a full tank.

Why is diesel more expensive than petrol?

Diesel is not always more expensive. Diesel and petrol respond to different demand, wholesale and supply conditions, so compare the current local price for the fuel your vehicle requires.

Why are prices so different between stations?

Two stations a few kilometres apart can differ by 20-30c/L on the same day. It comes down to local competition, each brand's pricing strategy and where each site is in the cycle, which is exactly why comparing before you fill up pays off.