Rising global petroleum prices are unlikely to impact Tonga until the next fuel price review in May, the Tongan Government indicated during a media briefing on Friday, 13 March 2026.
The CEO for the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development (MTED) Distaquaine Tu’ihalamaka, said the current price and supply of petroleum in Tonga remained stable.
“The fuel price this month shows no sign of being affected, and we also predict that prices next month will remain stable,” she said.
Tu’ihalamaka explained that fuel prices in Tonga are reviewed every two months. “So from now, any possible impact may be seen in the month of May,” she noted.
However, she said that several factors affecting fuel prices are beyond the government's control, including the transportation of oil to Tonga.
“We import oil from Fiji. At the moment, storage in Fiji is not experiencing any issues, and the volume we need is accessible. However, as mentioned earlier, any impact may be seen in May,” she said.
Tu’ihalamaka told Friday's press briefing that the global price of oil had decreased recently.
“Previously, one barrel of oil was about US $110, but it is now around US $90. If there are any fluctuations, it will likely remain around that range,” she said.
She added that any adjustments to local fuel prices would be confirmed during the review in May.
Meanwhile, the CEO for Energy, Sione ‘Akau’ola, said that following last year’s petrol shortage, the ministry is planning to introduce new regulations aimed at improving fuel supply management in Tonga.
The petroleum retail prices for Tongatapu are currently:
- Petrol $3.05 per liter
- Kerosene $2.35 per liter
- Diesel $3.10 per liter
Global price increases
Meanwhile, there are growing concerns worldwide over surging oil prices. As of mid-March 2026, global oil prices have surged above $100 per barrel, driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and threats to energy infrastructure, with prices reaching the highest levels since mid-2022.
