Economy
In Gloomy Oil Market, India Pump Prices Echo $100-Plus Crude
(Bloomberg) — Crude oil has plummeted to about $30 a barrel from $115 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi first came to power six years ago, but Indian consumers are yet to enjoy the benefits of the plunge.
Modi’s administration has repeatedly raised taxes on fuel to cushion worsening public finances. Diesel in the country’s capital now costs 20% more than it did in 2014, with levies accounting for nearly half the retail price, while gasoline is roughly priced the same as under Modi’s predecessor.
Higher prices help avoid unnecessary use of the polluting fuel, authorities have said in the past. But, as consumption takes a dangerous dip amid the coronavirus lockdown, reducing costs could have helped citizens — from factory owners to farmers — at a time when millions have lost their jobs and are living on handouts from the government or the charity of neighbors.
The latest increase came close to midnight on Tuesday, when the federal government imposed an additional levy of 13 rupees per liter on diesel and 10 rupees on gasoline. Pump prices will, however, not change, the government said. That means fuel retailers like Indian Oil Corp., Bharat Petroleum Corp. and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. would have to absorb the higher duties. The companies’ shares plunged.
Taxes collected by the federal government on diesel have swelled by seven times in the last six years while those on gasoline have nearly tripled over the same period. Brent was trading near $30 a barrel on Thursday after recovering from a more than 18-year low of $19.33 on April 21.
Read more: India’s Oil Revenue Loss in Lockdown Seen Exceeding $5 Billion
The steep increase in taxes on the two fuels, which account for more than half of India’s oil demand, comes at a time when demand has plunged by about 70% following the world’s biggest lockdown. Asia’s third-largest economy is seen hurtling toward its first full-year contraction since 1980, as several businesses shut, forcing 122 million people out of work last month.
-
Banking & Finance2 weeks agoOman Oil Marketing Company Concludes Its Annual Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality Week, Reaffirming People and Safety as a Top Priority
-
Economy2 months agoMaal Card: What Oman’s New National Payment Card Means for Everyday Users
-
Events2 months agoOER Corporate Excellence Awards 2025 Honours Entities and Innovations in Oman
-
News2 months agoSheikh Suhail Bahwan, Chairman of Suhail Bahwan Group, Passes Away
-
News1 month agoOIG Appoints New CEO to Lead Its Next Chapter of Excellence
-
Economy2 months agoOman Unveils Official Omani Rial Symbol in Landmark Move to Boost Global Currency Presence
-
News1 month agoReport: How India & The Middle East Are Exploiting Immense Economic Synergies
-
Uncategorized1 month agoOman’s ISWK Cambridge Learners Achieve ‘Top in the World’ and National Honours in June 2025 Cambridge Series
