Citizens of Liberia are already feeling the harsh impact of the ongoing global crisis in the Middle East, as petroleum product prices continue to rise. Passengers have complained that some have been required to pay twice the original fares following a recent increase in the country’s petroleum prices.
On March 14, 2026, Liberia’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced another nationwide increase in petroleum product prices, raising concerns among motorists, businesses, and ordinary citizens already struggling with the rising cost of living.
In a petroleum price circular, the Ministry, in consultation with the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, confirmed upward adjustments in the prices of gasoline, fuel oil, and aviation fuel on the Liberian market.
Under the new pricing structure, the retail pump price of gasoline (PMS) has increased by US$0.85, bringing the price to US$4.87 per gallon or L$910.00. Fuel oil (AGO) has also risen by US$0.90, with the new retail price set at US$5.78 or L$1,080.00 per gallon.
Wholesale prices have likewise been revised upward. Gasoline will now sell at US$4.59, while fuel oil will be sold at US$5.50 at the wholesale level.
The government also announced a sharp increase in aviation fuel. The price of Jet A-1 has risen by US$2.65, pushing the new selling price to US$7.57.
Officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Liberia said the adjustments were made following consultations with the management of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company to reflect prevailing global and domestic market conditions.
At the same time, the Ministry warned petroleum importers and dealers against manipulating prices beyond the approved ceilings. It disclosed that its inspectorate team will be deployed across the country to ensure strict compliance with the new pricing regime.
“The Inspectorate Team of the Ministry will closely monitor the approved ceiling prices to avoid arbitrary hikes at the pump and to ensure that importers do not undercut competitors or hoard petroleum products on the market,” the statement noted.
The price adjustment, endorsed by Commerce Minister Magdalene Ellen Dagoseh and Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, Amos B. Tweh, takes immediate effect.
Authorities said the revised pricing structure was based on the February 13, 2026 exchange rate of L$187 to US$1, released by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Economic observers say such increases often have a ripple effect across the economy, particularly on transportation costs, electricity generation, and the prices of goods and services in Monrovia and other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the government maintains that the price circular forms part of its broader policy aimed at stabilizing the petroleum market while ensuring fair competition among fuel importers.
However, this latest development is taking a negative turn for ordinary Liberians who have voiced frustration over what they believe are unreasonable charges imposed by commercial drivers, especially over the last two days.
“I usually pay fifty dollars from ELWA Junction here to the part of Congo Town where I live. But today drivers are charging us a hundred dollars,” a female officer told our reporter.
Another passenger mentioned that while transportation is understandably affected by petroleum prices, it is unfair for passengers to bear the entire price difference from previous fares, especially when petroleum prices have not increased by a hundred percent.
