Fiji’s government says the country has sufficient fuel stocks for now but warned households and businesses to brace for further price pain as global market pressures persist, announcing a $56 million reprioritisation to cushion the impact.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka on Friday outlined the latest fuel position, saying that as of April 19 Fiji had about 45 million litres of fuel in stock on land, with a further 22 million litres expected to arrive before the end of April. That brings April’s total available supply to roughly 67 million litres — described by Rabuka as “close to half” of national storage capacity — with daily consumption running at about 2.5 million litres. He said the figure equates to roughly a month’s supply at current usage and that levels will naturally fall as shipments are rotated.
Rabuka said normal consumption patterns would reduce stocks to around 40 million litres — about 29 percent of capacity — by the end of April, a drawdown he framed as routine to allow safe receipt and discharge of incoming shipments. He stressed that Fiji remains in a Phase 1 supply situation: no shortage, but under serious pressure from elevated global prices driven by the Middle East conflict and shipping disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Looking ahead, he said fuel suppliers have committed to delivering about 118 million litres in May. Those shipments, Rabuka added, would lift national stocks back to more than 59 percent of storage capacity and restore a stronger buffer. The prime minister blamed the rising domestic pump prices on international conditions and the mechanics of fuel procurement — fuel is bought in US dollars and pass-throughs by the independent price regulator reflect real purchasing costs. He noted the regulator’s April 1 price adjustment and warned consumers to expect another rise in May.
To blunt the economic pain, Cabinet on April 21 approved the redeployment of $56 million (US$39.95 million) within the existing 2025–2026 Budget to respond to the global fuel crisis. Rabuka said the money is not new borrowing but a reprioritisation of funds from delayed projects “to provide immediate support where it is needed most,” aimed at cushioning families, businesses and key services. The government has framed the package as protecting livelihoods and maintaining essential services while negotiating the volatile global market.
The update builds on warnings issued in March when officials and analysts flagged the risk of fuel-price shocks if tensions in the Middle East affected the Strait of Hormuz — a critical oil transit route. Those earlier reports prompted scrutiny by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission and government contingency planning. Friday’s figures provide the most detailed public accounting yet of Fiji’s physical stocks and near-term import schedule, while setting expectations that costs, rather than supply shortages, will be the primary challenge for consumers in the coming weeks.