随着廉价原油运抵印度，汽油和柴油价格可能会下降
联邦石油和天然气部长 Hardeep Singh Puri 表示，零售汽油和柴油价格在不久的将来可能会有所下降。这一潜在的降价空间取决于目前印度炼油厂正在处理的低价原油货物的运抵情况。
原油成本与零售价格之间的滞后期
降价的可能性与石油营销公司 (OMCs) 的库存周期密切相关。Puri 部长在 Sonbhadra 的新闻发布会上解释说，炼油厂目前正在处理以较高国际价格购买的原油库存。
由于现有的库存，国际原油价格走低带来的好处在传递给消费者之前会存在一个时间滞后期。“当以较低价格购买的原油运抵时，燃料价格有可能下降，”Puri 表示，并澄清说，廉价进口的即时影响在加油站尚未显现。
政府对燃料定价策略的辩护
针对由于中东和霍尔木兹海峡地缘政治紧张局势引发的全球能源市场波动担忧，部长为政府的定价立场进行了辩护。他指出，与全球趋势相比，印度成功地将燃料价格的涨幅控制在相对有限的范围内。
Puri 强调了有关燃料财政管理的几个关键点：
- 税收吸收： 政府在 2021 年 11 月、2022 年 5 月以及最近，降低了汽油和柴油的中央消费税，承担了每升约 ₹10 的负担。
- 全球比较： 部长声称，在 193 个联合国成员国中，只有日本的石油价格涨幅低于印度。
- 价格稳定性： 他断言，燃料价格的整体涨幅被限制在每升约 ₹7.60，与 2022 年俄乌冲突爆发时的价格水平相比，有效地维持了稳定性。
石油营销公司面临的压力
Despite the efforts to shield consumers, the volatility is taking a significant toll on the balance sheets of OMCs. Industry experts have pointed out that a combination of elevated crude prices and a weaker rupee continues to squeeze margins. Puri revealed that oil marketing companies are currently facing losses of approximately ₹1,000 crore per day, emphasizing that the government has intervened to ensure consumers do not bear the full brunt of these rising costs.
Economic Growth and Regional Development
Beyond energy, the Minister touched upon India's broader economic trajectory and regional development. He noted that Uttar Pradesh's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has surged from roughly ₹13 lakh crore in 2016-17 to nearly ₹36 lakh crore. He also cited Sonbhadra as a success story, noting its per capita income has risen from ₹43,000 in 2018 to approximately ₹1.2 lakh today, reflecting the country's steady march toward becoming the world's third-largest economy.
Key Takeaways
- Price Relief Outlook: Retail fuel prices may decrease once the current high-cost crude inventory is exhausted and cheaper imports reach refiners.
- Government Subsidy: The central government has absorbed nearly ₹10 per litre in excise duties to mitigate the impact of global volatility on Indian consumers.
- OMC Financial Strain: Oil marketing companies are currently navigating significant challenges, reporting daily losses of around ₹1,000 crore due to market fluctuations.