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Petrol Exports Cheaper, Diesel Costlier: Government Reshapes Fuel Duties

1 Nov5 min read· 📷 Pixabay

India's government scrapped the export duty on petrol and increased the windfall tax on diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF). These changes, effective October 31, aim to balance refinery profits and domestic fuel availability.

₹0/litre

Petrol Export Duty

Previously: N/A→₹0/litre

📊 One chart explains it

Diesel Export Duty (₹/Litre)

Aug 2022
5 ₹/Litre
Jan 2023
0 ₹/Litre
Oct 15, 2026
8.5 ₹/Litre
Oct 31, 2026
11.5 ₹/Litre

Takeaway: After being removed in early 2023, diesel export duty has seen increases in late 2026, reflecting rising global crude prices.

⏳ Time Machine

How today’s news fits into the bigger picture

  1. July 1, 2022

    Windfall Tax Introduced

    India first imposed the (SAED), or windfall tax, on domestically produced crude oil and exports of petrol, diesel, and ATF. This was a response to Indian firms making exceptional profits from high global oil prices.

  2. August 17, 2022

    Petrol Export Duty Removed

    In an early revision, the government removed the export duty on petrol, acknowledging a drop in refining margins for the fuel, while retaining duties on diesel and ATF with adjustments.

  3. January 31, 2023

    Crude Oil Tax Zeroed

    The windfall tax on domestically produced crude oil was reduced to zero, reflecting a decline in international and aiming to support domestic exploration and production companies.

  4. October 15, 2026

    Previous Duty Revision

    In the preceding fortnightly review, export duties were set at ₹8.50 per litre for diesel and ₹10.50 per litre for Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), prior to the latest adjustments.

  5. Today

    Government scraps petrol export duty, raises taxes on diesel and ATF exports.

  6. What happens next?

    Further fortnightly reviews of windfall taxes will occur, with the next expected around mid-November, based on global crude prices.

Effective October 31, 2026, the Indian government has adjusted its Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED), also known as the windfall gains tax, on petroleum products. The export duty on petrol has been **scrapped to zero**, providing relief to refiners. Conversely, the duty on diesel exports has been increased by **₹3 per litre** to **₹11.50**, up from ₹8.50. Similarly, the tax on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) exports rose by **₹0.50 per litre** to **₹11.00**, from ₹10.50. These fortnightly revisions are part of the government's strategy to respond to global crude oil price movements and ensure adequate domestic fuel supplies, while also taxing supernormal profits of refiners.

💭 If you're wondering…

A windfall tax is an extra tax on profits that a company earns due to an unexpected event, like a sudden surge in global prices, rather than from their own strategic business decisions. It aims to capture these 'supernormal' earnings for the government.

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