Cairo raises public transport fares by up to 15% after first fuel price surge in 2025

CAIRO – 11 April 2025: The Cairo governorate announced a 10-15% increase in public transportation fares following the Ministry of Petroleum's Friday announcement of an LE 2 rise in diesel and gasoline prices, marking the first increase of 2025.

Microbus fare increases vary based on the length of the routes across the governorate, ranging from LE 0.5 to LE 3, with higher rates for routes extending to other governorates.

Minibuses have seen a fare increase of LE 2, while autobus fares have risen by LE 1 to LE 2.

Taking a taxi will also be more expensive starting today.

Taxi meters will now start at LE 11.5, up from LE 10.5, for the first kilometer, with subsequent kilometers costing LE 2.25 each. The  initial waiting time charge for the first hour is set at LE 25, with an additional hourly rate of LE 12.50.

Starting at 6:00 AM on Friday, April 11, 2025, the Egyptian government will officially implement a new round of fuel price increases. The revised prices will apply to a wide range of fuel types, including gasoline, diesel, industrial mazut, gas used in brick kilns, and butane… pic.twitter.com/8DhzxnB0Zy

— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) April 10, 2025

Fuel adjustments, issued by the Ministry of Petroleum, took effect at 6 AM on Friday.

The price of 95-octane gasoline rose to LE 19 from LE 17, 92-octane gasoline increased to LE 17.25 from LE 15.25, and 80-octane gasoline will go up to LE 15.75 from LE 13.75.

Diesel prices also rose to LE 15.50 from LE 13.50, indicating potential future increases in commodity prices and services linked to diesel.

The Ministry of Petroleum said there will be no consideration of changing current fuel prices for the next six months.

In a statement, the ministry said despite today’s price increases, a significant gap remains between production costs and sale prices.

The government is committed to directing the majority of subsidies towards diesel, butane, and 80/92 octane gasoline to ease the financial strain on the public, the ministry noted.

The government imports about 40%, 50% and 25% of needed diesel, butane and gasoline for local consumption, respectively, the ministry said, noting that the state endures around LE 366 million daily (LE 11 billion monthly) due to the gap between prices and actual costs.

In late March, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly noted that the government plans to implement “gradual” increases in fuel prices until the end of the year, as these changes cannot occur all at once.

Last year, the government unveiled its plan to gradually eliminate fuel subsidies, citing them as “a significant burden on the budget.”

Over the past decade, the country has raised fuel prices multiple times.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in March stated that Egypt, connected to the lender through an $8 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) loan program, remains committed to lifting fuel subsidies by the end of 2025.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva emphasized last year the importance of Egypt replacing untargeted fuel subsidies with targeted social spending as part of a comprehensive fuel price adjustment package.