OMCs bleed Rs 30,000 cr/month as frozen pump prices clash with $113 crude

Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL — controlling 90% of India's fuel retail — are absorbing Rs 18/litre on petrol and Rs 25/litre on diesel as Delhi holds pump prices at Rs 94.77 and Rs 87.67 amid West Asia crisis. A post-election hike looks imminent.

— Filed Fri, 15 May, 2026, 07:31 IST · Source Indian Express · Business · Updated

State-owned OMCs Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL are absorbing Rs 30,000 crore monthly under-recoveries on frozen petrol, diesel and LPG retail prices amid West Asia crisis; a fuel-pump price hike is imminent post-state elections.

Why this matters

Indian Oil and peer OMCs face mounting margin pressure as government holds retail fuel prices flat for political reasons, repeating the 2022 election-cycle freeze pattern that triggered massive Q1 losses.

Retail-company signals steady at 213 over 90d, with fuel retail margin stress emerging as a key sub-theme.