Here is the latest market alert for consumers: a fresh adjustment window for domestic refined oil prices is set to open at midnight on August 28th, with market forecasts pointing towards another substantial jump in costs for drivers.

Driven by the continuous strength in international crude oil benchmarks, the expectation for this price increase has been climbing steadily and has now firmly entered the zone of a major hike. If the current market momentum holds, the upcoming adjustment will see both 92-octane and 95-octane gasoline record their 11th price increase this year.

According to projections from industry analysts, the wholesale price for domestic gasoline and diesel is expected to rise by 360 yuan per tonne. When converted to retail pump prices, this translates to an increase of approximately 0.28 to 0.30 yuan per litre. For motorists, this means filling up a standard 50-litre tank will cost an estimated 14 to 15 yuan more than before.

Following the price cut implemented on August 14th, the 2026 pricing calendar has now completed 16 adjustments. The year-to-date tally reveals 10 increases and 5 decreases, alongside 1 instance where a price adjustment was shelved. However, when accounting for the net effect of these moves, overall fuel prices have still accumulated a significant rise: gasoline has increased by a cumulative 1,345 yuan per tonne, and diesel by 1,295 yuan per tonne. This means the plaster price at the pump remains over 1.03 yuan per litre higher than it was at the start of the year, despite the occasional relief provided by prior cuts.