Relief for Consumers? Petrol and Diesel Rates May Drop Soon

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has signaled potential relief for Indian consumers, suggesting that retail petrol and diesel prices could decrease. The possibility arises as cheaper crude oil shipments begin to reach Indian refineries, though the impact on the pump will not be immediate.

The Lag Between Crude Imports and Retail Prices

While international crude oil prices have shown signs of softening, Minister Puri clarified that the benefits will take time to trickle down to the end consumer. Currently, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are processing inventory purchased at higher historical prices.

"At present, companies have stocks of crude oil bought at higher prices. When crude purchased at lower prices reaches them, there is a possibility of a reduction in fuel prices," Puri stated during a press conference in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. This explains why retail prices often do not move in real-time with global market fluctuations, as refineries must first exhaust existing, more expensive stocks.

Defending Fuel Pricing Amid Global Volatility

Addressing concerns over recent price hikes triggered by Middle East tensions and disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz, the Minister defended the government's pricing strategy. He noted that India has managed to shield consumers from the full brunt of global energy volatility.

Puri highlighted that the government has actively intervened to stabilize costs by reducing central excise duties in November 2021, May 2022, and more recently, effectively absorbing a burden of approximately ₹10 per litre on both petrol and diesel. He pointed out that while prices have seen a limited increase of about ₹7.60 per litre, the overall impact has been minimal compared to other nations. In fact, he claimed that out of 193 UN member states, only Japan has seen a lower increase in petroleum prices than India.

Pressure on Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs)

Despite the efforts to maintain stability for the public, the energy sector is facing significant financial strain. The Minister revealed that OMCs are currently incurring losses of approximately ₹1,000 crore per day.

این فشار مالی نتیجه یک «ضربه دوگانه» است: افزایش قیمت نفت خام ناشی از بی‌ثباتی ژئوپلیتیک در غرب آسیا و کاهش ارزش روپیه که باعث گران‌تر شدن واردات می‌شود. کارشناسان صنعت هشدار می‌دهند که این عوامل همچنان باعث کاهش حاشیه سود شرکت‌های بازاریابی نفت (OMC) می‌شوند و ورود نفت خام ارزان‌تر برای سلامت بلندمدت این بخش و ثبات قیمت‌های مصرف‌کننده ضروری است.

نکات کلیدی

• تعدیل قیمت‌های دیرهنگام: قیمت خرده‌فروشی سوخت ممکن است تنها زمانی کاهش یابد که پالایشگاه‌ها پردازش ذخایر فعلی نفت خام با قیمت بالا را به پایان رسانده و استفاده از واردات ارزان‌تر را آغاز کنند.
• مداخله دولت: دولت مرکزی برای کاهش اثرات نوسانات جهانی بر شهروندان هند، تقریباً ۱۰ روپیه در هر لیتر از مالیات‌های غیرمستقیم را بر عهده گرفته است.
• فشار مالی بر شرکت‌های بازاریابی نفت (OMCs): شرکت‌های بازاریابی نفت به دلیل افزایش هزینه‌های واردات و نوسانات ارز، با زیان‌های سنگین روزانه در حدود ۱۰۰۰ کرور روپیه مواجه هستند.