Zimbabwe fuel consumption rises

Published: 07 May 2026

Zimbabwe recorded mixed fuel consumption trends in the first quarter of 2026, with strong growth in industrial and aviation fuels offset by a decline in petrol usage, according to data released by the country's energy regulator Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority.

Diesel consumption rose by 20.2 percent during the period, reflecting increased demand from industry for production activities and energy backup systems. The regulator attributed the growth to sustained industrial recovery and reliance on diesel-powered generators amid ongoing energy supply challenges.

Jet A1 fuel usage also increased significantly, rising by 19.4 percent, a trend linked to higher airline traffic and improved regional and international flight activity.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) demand climbed by 4.5 percent, as more households and businesses continue transitioning from traditional energy sources to gas. Over a longer period, LPG consumption has surged dramatically, increasing by about 752.7 percent between Q1 2015 and Q1 2026, meaning Zimbabweans are now using roughly 8.5 times more gas than they did a decade ago.

In contrast, petrol consumption declined by 6.5 percent in the first quarter. Data shows consumption dropped from 62 million litres in February to 49.5 million litres in March, following sharp price increases that dampened demand among motorists.

ZERA figures further indicate that Zimbabwe consumed 2.1 billion litres of fuel in 2025, up from 1.6 billion litres in 2024. Diesel remained the dominant product, accounting for approximately 1.5 billion litres of total consumption last year.

The regulator expects overall fuel usage to continue rising, projecting demand of about 2.5 billion litres in 2026 as economic activity expands.

However, the country's fuel import bill for the period was not disclosed in the latest update.
- BusinessDaily

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