India ‘set to hike fuel prices amid inflation concerns’

(Representative photo)

India will raise petrol and diesel prices next week for the first time in more than four months as global crude prices soar after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week, three government officials said, amid growing concern about inflation. Asia’s third-largest economy, which imports 80% of its oil needs, faces retail inflation staying above the central bank’s tolerance limit of 6% as companies pass on a nearly 40% rise in crude prices since November, as well as rises in prices for other imported raw materials, economists said. State-run oil companies, which control the domestic market, have not raised prices since November 4, aiming to help Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in crucial state assembly elections including in the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh. “The oil companies would be free to raise prices in a phased manner once the election is over on March 7,” a senior government official with the knowledge of internal discussions on oil prices said. Higher fuel prices could lead to some protests but with the important state elections out of the way, the political risk for Modi has been reduced. Opposition parties will push for fuel tax cuts when parliament meets from March 14. Oil prices surged after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, with Brent rising above $116 a barrel on Thursday, while supply disruptions have hit global prices of wheat, soybean, fertiliser and metals like copper, steel and aluminium — raising worries about prices and economic recovery. State oil companies have told the government that they need a price increase of Rs10-Rs12 per litre for petrol and diesel, a second official said. A senior official at a state-run oil marketing company confirmed that they were facing difficulties though he declined to give figures. “We are incurring huge losses,” the oil marketing company official said. The government was unlikely to cut fuel taxes to soften the blow, at least before the March 31 end of the fiscal year, considering the impact of that on state revenues, said another senior government official, with knowledge of the budget. The federal and state governments, which collect over 100% tax on the basic price of petrol and diesel, cut factory gate duties and sales tax on fuel products in November, after a public outcry. “We may consider a proposal to cut fuel tax in April,” said the official with knowledge of the budget, referring to the cut in excise duties on petrol and diesel in November.