Friday 17 April 2026

Brent crude eased 4.1% over the past week to US$90.60 per barrel, while the Australian dollar strengthened 1.5% against the US dollar, trimming the local cost of imported fuel. These are the two inputs that, together with refining and shipping margins, determine the wholesale cost of fuel landed at Australian terminals.

The four-week outlook is leaning lower. Prices likely to ease over the next 4 weeks Crude oil has fallen 10% and the australian dollar has strengthened — the cost of importing petrol is down 8%. That typically flows through to the pump within 3–4 weeks. Don't over-fill right now — cheaper prices are likely coming.

Historically, moves in import parity take about 10-14 days to show up at the bowser. With wholesale decreases this week, you can expect the pressure to filter through to pump prices over the next two weeks — earlier in metros that follow a tight price cycle, later in regional markets where retailers smooth changes out.

Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin are on the falling leg, which is when local prices typically reach their lowest before the cycle resets.

Across our coverage, the cycle call leans toward fill-up now in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin — the model's read is that prices are at or near the local trough and likely to climb in coming days.

Layered over the local cycle, the macro signal is biased downward for the next four weeks based on the wholesale cost trajectory. That doesn't always change the day-to-day call, but it does shift where each city's cycle is likely to land relative to recent history.