KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian motorists are getting another round of fuel-price relief from November 12, with the government cutting unsubsidised petrol and diesel prices across all three major fuel categories.
The biggest reduction goes to RON97, which drops by 50 sen per litre to RM4.20, while unsubsidised RON95 falls by 40 sen to RM3.87. Unsubsidised diesel becomes 25 sen cheaper, bringing its price to RM4.87 per litre.
The new rates, announced by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on November 11, will remain in effect until November 18.
But the reductions do not mean every motorist will see a cheaper price at the pump. Eligible Malaysians will continue paying RM1.99 per litre for subsidised RON95 under BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95), while eligible diesel recipients remain protected at RM2.10 per litre.
The government says lower global crude prices and increased regional supplies of refined petroleum products helped bring down unsubsidised prices during the latest calculation period.
However, it has also issued a warning: the unresolved conflict involving Iran and continued attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz could still disrupt supplies and trigger renewed volatility.
For motorists, the immediate relief is real. Whether it lasts is another question.
MALAYSIA FUEL PRICES FROM NOVEMBER 12 TO 18, 2026
The latest adjustments were announced under Malaysia’s Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM).
Here are the revised retail prices:
| Fuel type | Previous price | New price | Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| RON97 | RM4.70 | RM4.20 | 50 sen |
| Unsubsidised RON95 | RM4.27 | RM3.87 | 40 sen |
| Unsubsidised diesel | RM5.12 | RM4.87 | 25 sen |
The subsidised rates remain unchanged:
| Subsidised fuel category | Price per litre |
|---|---|
| BUDI95 RON95 | RM1.99 |
| BUDI Diesel | RM2.10 |
| SKPS petrol | RM2.05 |
| SKDS diesel | RM2.15 |
The new prices apply from Thursday, November 12, through Wednesday, November 18.
For a motorist buying 50 litres of fuel at the unsubsidised rate, the reductions translate into approximate savings of:
- RON97: RM25 per 50 litres.
- Unsubsidised RON95: RM20 per 50 litres.
- Unsubsidised diesel: RM12.50 per 50 litres.
These are comparisons against the previous week’s prices, not additional government cash payments.
The Ministry of Finance’s announcement was also reported by Bernama, The Star and The Edge Malaysia.
BUDI95 AND BUDI DIESEL USERS REMAIN PROTECTED
While market-linked fuel prices have fallen, eligible Malaysians will continue receiving targeted subsidies.
Under BUDI95, eligible recipients pay RM1.99 per litre for RON95 instead of the unsubsidised RM3.87.
The government is covering RM1.88 per litre, equivalent to approximately 49% of the unsubsidised price.
For eligible BUDI Diesel recipients, the pump price remains RM2.10 per litre, compared with the unsubsidised rate of RM4.87.
The government is providing a subsidy of RM2.77 per litre, equivalent to approximately 57% of the unsubsidised price.
Eligible Malaysians can access the subsidised fuel using their MyKad, subject to the programme’s eligibility requirements and applicable monthly limits.
The separate controlled prices for eligible commercial vehicles also remain unchanged:
- SKPS petrol: RM2.05 per litre.
- SKDS diesel: RM2.15 per litre.
This distinction matters because the headline reduction does not apply equally to every customer. Motorists already buying subsidised RON95 or diesel will continue paying the same protected rates.
WHY DID MALAYSIA CUT FUEL PRICES WHILE THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT CONTINUES?
The MOF attributed the latest reductions to two main developments during the APM calculation period.
First, international crude oil prices declined.
Second, the supply of refined petroleum products in regional markets increased, helping moderate the prices of petrol and diesel.
The ministry said these developments allowed it to reduce the unsubsidised retail rates.
However, it did not describe the global energy situation as stable.
The government specifically warned that petroleum prices remain exposed to significant volatility while the conflict involving Iran remains unresolved.
It also pointed to recent tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz as evidence that supply-disruption risks remain.
The distinction is important: lower prices during one weekly calculation period do not mean the geopolitical risks affecting energy supplies have disappeared.
STRAIT OF HORMUZ ATTACKS KEEP OIL TRADERS ON EDGE
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil-shipping routes, connecting the Persian Gulf with international markets.
Any serious disruption can affect the movement of crude oil and petroleum products from major Middle Eastern exporters.
Reuters reported on November 11 that oil prices were trading near the previous session’s two-month lows as investors weighed hopes for de-escalation in the US-Israeli war with Iran against continued attacks on commercial shipping.
Brent crude was trading around US$91.68 per barrel during Wednesday’s morning trading in London, while US West Texas Intermediate was around US$85.98.
But the shipping situation remained dangerous.
Reuters reported that 37 ships were attacked in October, the highest monthly total since the start of the war, according to data from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
A tanker was also struck northeast of Lima in Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy separately claimed that two tankers caught fire after hitting naval mines while travelling on what it described as an unauthorised route.
These incidents illustrate why energy markets remain sensitive even when crude prices decline.
WWC ONE MEDIA examined the wider oil-market selloff and the possibility of another sharp reversal in Oil Prices Crash Nearly 25% in 10 Days as Trump Signals No New Iran War — But Could One Tanker Attack Send Brent Soaring Above $100 Again?.
The report highlights a central problem for energy markets: traders may be pricing in a lower chance of immediate military escalation, but shipping operators still face serious risks.
IRAN’S NAVIGATION WARNING ADDS ANOTHER RISK FOR GLOBAL SHIPPING
The security situation around the Strait of Hormuz has become more complicated following reports of damage to maritime navigation systems.
On November 9, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said no unauthorised vessels had crossed the waterway overnight after navigational aid systems in its southern section were destroyed.
The announcement raised further concerns about the safety of commercial vessels travelling through the area.
However, Iran’s statement should not be interpreted as confirmation that all shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had stopped.
WWC ONE MEDIA covered the announcement in Iran Says No Unauthorized Ships Crossed Strait of Hormuz After Navigation Systems Destroyed — New Warning Raises Fears for Global Oil Shipping.
The wider concern is that even a diplomatic breakthrough would not necessarily restore normal shipping immediately.
Mine clearance, insurance costs, vessel safety and the willingness of shipowners to resume regular routes could all affect the recovery of oil flows.
For Malaysia, that means the risk of another change in global petroleum prices remains.
MALAYSIA’S LATEST CUT FOLLOWS ANOTHER WEEK OF LOWER FUEL PRICES
The November 12 adjustment continues a recent downward movement in unsubsidised fuel prices.
For November 5 to 11, the government had already reduced unsubsidised RON95 and diesel by 15 sen per litre, while RON97 fell by 20 sen.
At that time, the prices were:
- RON97: RM4.70 per litre.
- Unsubsidised RON95: RM4.27 per litre.
- Unsubsidised diesel: RM5.12 per litre.
The latest announcement cuts all three categories again.
WWC ONE MEDIA previously reported the earlier reduction in Malaysia Cuts Petrol and Diesel Prices for November 5–11 as Oil Markets Ease — But Middle East Tensions Still Threaten Another Reversal.
Together, the two weekly adjustments have brought the unsubsidised prices down by:
- RON97: 70 sen per litre compared with the October 29–November 4 rate of RM4.90.
- Unsubsidised RON95: 55 sen per litre compared with RM4.42.
- Unsubsidised diesel: 40 sen per litre compared with RM5.27.
The latest reductions therefore provide a more substantial change for motorists paying market-linked rates than the individual weekly figures might initially suggest.
WHY MALAYSIA’S WEEKLY FUEL PRICES CAN CHANGE SO QUICKLY
Malaysia uses the Automatic Pricing Mechanism to determine retail fuel prices.
The system takes account of international petroleum-market movements and relevant pricing components to calculate weekly retail rates.
Prices are announced on Wednesday and generally take effect on Thursday for the following seven-day period.
This means motorists can see prices move up or down from one week to the next as crude oil markets and regional refined-fuel prices change.
It also explains why a decline in crude prices does not necessarily translate into an immediate or identical reduction across every fuel grade.
The government can separately maintain targeted subsidies for eligible groups, allowing subsidised prices to remain stable even when unsubsidised rates fluctuate.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia’s OpenDOSM fuel-price dataset records the weekly retail rates and explains how the APM system has been used to adjust prices since 2017.
SINGAPORE’S PETROL MARKET SHOWS A DIFFERENT SIDE OF THE REGIONAL FUEL STORY
Malaysia’s latest reductions also come as Singapore motorists face a different pattern at the pump.
Singapore petrol retailers set their own posted prices, rather than using Malaysia’s weekly APM system.
WWC ONE MEDIA reported that Singapore petrol prices had risen for a fourth consecutive week in early November, even as international crude prices began to retreat.
The report, Singapore Petrol Prices Rise for Fourth Straight Week as Middle East Conflict Keeps Fuel Markets on Edge, illustrates how local pricing decisions, refined-fuel costs and timing can produce different results across neighbouring markets.
Singapore’s petrol retailers do not automatically reduce pump prices at the same time Malaysia announces a weekly adjustment.
The two countries are exposed to the same broad international energy environment, but their domestic pricing systems are different.
WILL MALAYSIA’S FUEL PRICES FALL AGAIN NEXT WEEK?
The Ministry of Finance has not guaranteed another reduction after November 18.
The next weekly adjustment will depend on the prices of crude oil and refined petroleum products during the relevant APM calculation period.
If crude prices remain lower and regional supplies continue improving, further reductions could become possible.
But renewed attacks on tankers, disruptions to shipping routes or damage to energy infrastructure could reverse the trend.
A sustained increase in insurance costs or delays in transporting petroleum products could also affect regional fuel markets, even if crude production itself remains available.
The government has therefore warned that the unresolved Iran conflict continues to pose a risk to petroleum-price stability.
For now, motorists should treat the latest reduction as a one-week adjustment rather than a guarantee of permanently cheaper fuel.
A WELCOME BREAK FOR MOTORISTS — BUT THE NEXT OIL SHOCK COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING
Malaysia’s latest fuel-price cuts offer meaningful relief to motorists paying unsubsidised rates.
RON97 is down 50 sen, unsubsidised RON95 is down 40 sen and diesel is down 25 sen per litre.
Eligible BUDI95 and BUDI Diesel recipients will continue to benefit from their existing subsidised prices.
But the wider energy market remains far from predictable.
The Strait of Hormuz continues to face security threats, tanker attacks have kept shipping risks elevated and the conflict involving Iran has yet to reach a lasting resolution.
The latest reductions show that lower crude prices and improved regional fuel supplies can provide relief even during a period of geopolitical tension.
The question is whether those improvements can last.
For Malaysian motorists, the immediate savings are welcome. But if another major shipping disruption sends oil prices higher, the next weekly fuel announcement could tell a very different story.
