Bulk diesel buyers shifted to the pump. (symbolic photo)
Due to the huge difference in diesel prices in India, bulk customers are now buying cheaper diesel from retail petrol pumps. Due to this, the bulk sales of oil companies have declined by 30-50%. According to an ET report, diesel sales to wholesale customers have declined by 30% to 50%. The main reason for this is that many big customers are now buying diesel from retail petrol pumps, where the price is becoming cheaper by about ₹ 50 per liter.
In fact, recently oil companies have increased the prices of diesel for big customers, which include defense, railways, factories, mining companies and road construction companies. The company took this decision after the increase in crude oil prices in the global market due to the Iran war and closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
There is so much difference in diesel prices
The companies have not increased the prices of diesel available at retail pumps for the general public. Due to this, companies are incurring losses on every litre. Now when bulk customers are also going to retail pumps to get cheaper diesel, the losses of the companies are increasing further. The price of diesel for bulk customers in Delhi is around ₹ 134.5 per liter, while the same diesel is available at ₹ 87.6 per liter at the retail pump. That means a difference of about ₹ 47. Similarly, in Visakhapatnam the bulk price is ₹ 148.5 and the retail price is ₹ 96.4 per liter, i.e. a difference of ₹ 52.
They are buying diesel at expensive prices
This huge difference in prices is attracting customers, as cheaper fuel directly increases their profits. However, defence, railways and some big companies are still buying diesel in bulk at expensive prices. On the other hand, small industries, mining and road construction contractors and fishing organizations are now rapidly shifting towards retail pumps. About 12% of the total diesel consumption in India comes from bulk sales. In such a situation, the movement of these customers towards retail pumps is increasing the sales of petrol pumps.
Government said no need to panic
In some areas, common people are also buying more due to the fear of increase in the prices of diesel and petrol. However, the government has said that there is no need to panic. This is not the first time this has happened. A similar situation was seen during the Ukraine war in 2022, when bulk customers switched to cheaper retail diesel. At present, due to high prices of crude oil in the international market, companies seem ready to lose their market share instead of giving discounts to customers.
