OMCs Raise Industrial Diesel Prices by 25%, Keep Retail Rates Unchanged
State-owned oil marketing companies have implemented a steep hike in industrial diesel prices, raising rates by Rs 22 per litre while leaving retail prices unchanged, signalling a targeted approach to margin recovery amid sustained pressure from global crude markets.
As per a March 22 report by Nomura, the price of diesel sold to bulk and industrial consumers has been increased from Rs 87.57 per litre to Rs 109.59 per litre, an escalation of nearly 25 percent within two days. Meanwhile, retail diesel prices in Delhi have been held steady at Rs 87.57 per litre.
Industrial diesel constitutes about 13 percent of the country’s total diesel consumption and caters primarily to high-volume users such as Indian Railways, state-run transport fleets, construction and mining firms, factories, captive power generators and telecom infrastructure providers.
The divergence in pricing highlights a strategic shift by OMCs to pass on cost pressures to bulk consumers, allowing them to stabilise margins without triggering an immediate impact on retail fuel prices.
