MOODY'S PREDICTS NO FUEL PRICE HIKE AMID RISING CRUDE OIL COSTS

Petrol and diesel prices are unlikely to be increased despite firming raw material costs because of upcoming general polls next year, Moody’s Investors Service said.

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Three state-owned fuel retailers -- Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) -- which control roughly 90 per cent of the market, have kept petrol and diesel prices on freeze for a record 18 months in a row.

This is despite the raw material (crude oil) cost surging last year, leading to heavy losses in first half of 2022-23 fiscal year before easing oil prices propelled them to profitability.

International oil prices have firmed up since August, leading to margins of three retailers turning negative again.

“High crude oil prices will weaken the profitability of the three state-owned oil marketing companies in India -- IOC, BPCL and HPCL,” Moody’s said in a report.