New Delhi, Jul 15: State-run oil marketing companies have hiked petrol prices for the fourth time in six weeks, mainly on account of the sharp depreciation in the Indian rupee. Petrol prices will become costlier by Rs. 1.55 a litre (without taxes) from Monday.
The revision in prices, as per the practice of changing rates in line with cost every fortnight, was due on Tuesday, July 16, but has occurred a day earlier.
Petrol will cost Rs. 1.86 per litre more (including taxes) in Delhi from Monday and sell for Rs. 70.44 a litre against Rs. 68.58. Oil firms had on June 1 raised the price of the fuel by 75 paise (excluding taxes) and followed it with a Rs. 2 per litre increase on June 16, and Rs. 1.82 on June 29.
The latest hike has negated the four reductions earlier this year that had brought down the rates to Rs. 63 at the beginning of May.
The hike is due to "the combined impact of deteriorating exchange rate and increasing international oil prices," Indian Oil said in a statement.
Crude for domestic consumption is mostly imported and as the rupee weakens importing crude becomes costlier as all global commodities are priced in dollar. The Indian rupee has fallen nearly 11 per cent from May 1, from a level of 53.80 to end at 59.56 on Friday. It is the worst performing currency in Asia.
"Since last price change, the downward spiral of rupee against the dollar has continued to reach a low of Rs. 60.03 per dollar as against Rs. 58.94 per dollar during the previous fortnight. Further, international MS prices have also shown an uptrend and increased from $115.29/barrel to $117.19/barrel," it said.
The rupee had hit a record low of 61.21 last week, but since then has steadied after the Reserve Bank and market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) stepped in to stem the slide in the currency.
However, there will be no change in diesel prices just yet as the revision in its rates is due at the end of July. Petrol prices were deregulated in June 2010, but diesel prices continue to be controlled by the government.
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