Malawi now has the highest fuel prices in Africa as global oil markets reel from supply disruptions linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
According to figures published this week by GlobalPetrolPrices, petrol and diesel now cost $3.84 and $3.85 per litre respectively, placing the southern African country second only to Hong Kong worldwide.
The surge has pushed Malawi far ahead of other African countries battling rising energy costs.
The Central African Republic (CAR) is a distant second at $2.23 per litre for diesel while Zimbabwe sits at $2.11.
For petrol, Zimbabwe ranks second at $2.23, followed by the CAR at $1.87 and Sierra Leone at $1.78.
Morocco, Senegal, Rwanda, Mali, Burkina Faso and Cameroon also feature among the continent’s top 10 most expensive markets.
The price shock comes as countries worldwide grapple with severe supply constraints following restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran in late February, tanker movements through the strategic waterway have slowed sharply.
The disruption has driven up crude prices, strained shipping routes and triggered ripple effects across global supply chains.
For heavily import‑dependent economies like Malawi, the impact has been immediate and severe.
The country already struggles with foreign‑exchange shortages and high transport costs, leaving it particularly vulnerable to global price swings.
Analysts warn that the latest spike will deepen inflationary pressures, raise food and transport costs and strain household incomes.
JN/APA