Know how is Fuel Cost to Consumer Computed. Petrol and Diesel Prices Calculation Cost in 2020
Date: March 15, 2020
Know how Fuel Prices are Calculated in 2020 including Taxes Paid for each Litre of Petrol and Diesel Fuel
Fuel Price Calculation in 2020
Crude Oil Prices are its lows with Prices almost reduced by over 50% from 65.93$ per Barrel in January 2020 to just 31.49$ per barrel in March 2020 and settling at 33$ per barrel on 14th March 2020
However, wondering are the Petrol and Diesel Prices in sync to fall. Answer is No as
» on 1st January 2020 - Petrol Prices were Rs 75.14 / Litre and Diesel was Rs 67.96 per Litre
» on 14th March 2020 - Petrol Prices were Rs 69.87 / Litre and Diesel was Rs 62.58 per Litre
Wondering, when International Crude Oil Prices reduced by 50% - why in India Petrol and Diesel prices not fallen by even 10%
Refer this Calculation Sheet
Calculating Crude Oil Cost - Petrol & Diesel - 2020
Below is Crude Oil Cost Comparison from 3rd March to 14 March 2020
| 1st January 2020 | 14 March 2020 | |
| International Price of Crude Oil with Ocean Freight (round off) | 67$ per Barrel | 35 $ per Barrel |
| Currency Exchange Rate | Rs 71.4 / USD | Rs 73.96 / USD |
| Crude Oil in Indian Currency | Rs 4784 | Rs 2588 |
| 1 Barrel of Crude Oil | 159 Litre | 159 Litre |
| Crude Oil - Cost per Litre | Rs 30.08 per Litre | Rs 16.28 per Litre |
As can be seen that even after Depreciating Currency, the Crude Oil Cost is 40% lower in March 2020 than as what was in January 2020. But the Benefits are not what passed on to consumers
On 14th March 2020 - Excise Duty and Road Cess on Petrol and Diesel was hiked by Rs 3 per Litre.
Simplified Calculation Chart for Petrol & Diesel Prices in New Delhi - (as on 14 March 2020)
| Petrol Price Calculation* | Diesel Price Calculation * | |
| Crude Oil - Cost per Litre (14 March 2020) | Rs 16.28 per Litre | Rs 16.28 per Litre |
| Basic OMC Cost Calculation * | ||
| Entry Tax, Refinery Processing, Refinery Margins, OMC Margin, Freight Cost, Logistics | Rs 12.2 per Litre | Rs 15.8 per Litre |
| Basic Cost of Fuel after Refining Cost | ||
| Indicative Price as on 14 March 2020 | Rs 28.48 per Litre | Rs 32.08 per Litre |
| Central Government Taxes & Dealer Commission | ||
| Additional: Excise Duty + Road Cess as Charged by Central Government |
Rs 22.98 / Litre on Petrol | Rs 18.83 / Lit on Diesel |
| Commission to Petrol Pump Dealers | Rs 3.55 per Litre | Rs 2.49 per Litre |
| Fuel Cost Before VAT | ||
| Cost as on 14 March 2020 | Rs 55.01 per Litre | Rs 53.4 per Litre |
| VAT Calculation | ||
| Additional:VAT (Varies from State to State - 27% on Petrol & 16.75% on Diesel + 25p as Pollution Cess with Surcharge) (14th March 2020) | Rs 14.86 / Litre on Petrol | Rs 9.18 / Litre on Diesel |
| Final Retail Price as on 14th March 2020 in Delhi | Rs 69.87 per Litre | Rs 62.58 per Litre |
* - Approx cost for Basic OMC Cost calculation
Very Important: The Petrol been Sold in India from End 2017 has 10% of Ethanol been Mixed with Petrol. Been Ethanol is a natural Fuel (as made from Sugar and starch) and very well can be mixed with Petrol without any changes and also has no PM (Particulate Material) Pollution.
However - the catch is Ethanol is priced at just Rs 47.89 per Litre, but is mixed in Petrol and the given rate is combined rate as been sold to consumer
It means that if your car go for petrol Tank Full of say 30 Litres - then in actual your car will get 27 Litre Petrol and 3 Litre Ethanol - but the rate charged would be the price of Petrol only - means you have to pay price of 30 Litre Petrol.
Also - there is slight a caution to Car Owners that they should ensure that Water does not come in contact with Petrol by any chance during Car Wash or Fuel Refill. If you going for Fuel refill during Monsoon and a small contact of water will lead Ethanol to break as separate layer against Petrol and this will end up giving Jerks making the car difficult to even start with.
Had it been ideal world - we would have ended up with Fuel Cost of Rs 30 per Litre for Petrol and Diesel. Irony is - we are paying more Taxes than the Cost of Obtaining Petrol Fuel in some states
Taxation Scenario on Petrol and Diesel Fuel
Do you always Wondered that Despite of Falling International Crude Oil Costs, Petrol and Diesel Prices in India are on higher Side
Apart from Crude Oil Rates - There are 2 Important Factors which determine the Fuel Cost - VAT and Excise Duty - which is as below
| Tax in November 2014 | Tax in August 2017 | Tax in March 2020 | |
| Excise Duty on Petrol | Rs 9.20 per Litre | Rs 21.48 per Litre | Rs 22.98 per Litre (incl. Road Cess) |
| Excise Duty on Diesel | Rs 3.46 per Litre | Rs 17.33 per Litre | Rs 18.83 per Litre (incl. Road Cess) |
| VAT on Basic Price on Petrol | 20% on Basic Price | 27% on Basic Price | 27% on Basic Price |
| VAT on Basic Price on Diesel | 12.5% on Basic Price | 16.75% on Diesel + 25p Cess | 16.75% on Diesel + 25p Cess |
Disclaimer :- Excise including Road Cess, Fuel Price Calculation done in Delhi, VAT rates in Delhi. Excise rates Standard Pan India
Taxes Paid for Obtaining Fuel
Below are Taxes Paid for Obtaining Fuel in Delhi (Scenario is not much different in other cities too - almost similar or even higher taxes charged)
| Tax Paid for Obtaining Fuel | Total Cost of Fuel | |
| Petrol in Delhi | Rs 37.84 per Litre (54%) | Rs 69.87 per Litre |
| Diesel in Delhi | Rs 28.01 per Litre (44.7%) | Rs 62.58 per Litre |
Basis - 14 March 2020 Prices in Delhi
It means for Every Litre of Petrol you are filling -- you are paying a steep tax of Rs 37.84 per Litre in Delhi to State and Central Government. Its even higher in Other cities
If you are Staying in Mumbai - you are paying highest Taxes on Petrol Prices in India. Reason Mumbai has highest State Level Taxes (VAT with additional Surcharge) and petrol prices in March 2020 still over Rs 75 per Litre at Rs 75.84 per Litre. The Excise+VAT+Surcharge in Mumbai is almost the highest making Maharashtra with Highest Fuel Prices in India
Know More -
» Why Petrol and Diesel Prices are High in India - Reasons for High Petrol and diesel Price in India
» Taxes on Buying Cars - Know Taxes Paid as Ownership Cost of Car
» Petrol or Diesel Cars - Guide on Which Car should you Buy
» Hatchback Cars with Best Mileage
» Sedan Cars with Best Mileage
Fuel Prices in India - based on Prices on 14th March 2020
| Petrol Price / Litre^ | Diesel Price / Litre^ | |
| New Delhi | Rs 69.87 | Rs 62.58 |
| Mumbai | Rs 75.57 | Rs 65.51 |
| Chennai | Rs 72.66 | Rs 66.1 |
| Kolkata | Rs 72.57 | Rs 64.91 |
| Goa | Rs 66.72 | Rs 63.31 |
| Bangalore | Rs 72.26 | Rs 64.72 |
| Port Blair | Rs 60.59 | Rs 58.97 |
^ - Prices as on 14 March 2020
Wondering for Fuel Price Difference. One of the Major Reasons for Discrepancy in Fuel Prices across States is that no GST Framework on Petroleum Prices and still VAT at differential rates been charged along with additional surcharge in some states
» VAT Rate Difference - VAT rate varies from state to state and to give instance on Petrol is highest in Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana, Kerala, TamilNadu while some states like Goa have lowest VAT on Petrol, thats why Petrol selling at such low rates in Goa.
All this leads to different Prices of Petroleum Products in Various States and Union Territories in India