New Delhi (India), June 16: The Central government has increased the export tax on diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF), a move aimed at ensuring adequate fuel availability within the country amid continued uncertainty in West Asia.
According to a notification issued by the Department of Revenue on Monday, the export duty on diesel has been raised by Rs 14 per litre, while the duty on ATF exports has been increased by Rs 12.5 per litre.
There is no change in the export duty on petrol or in the excise duties on petrol and diesel sold within India. The revised rates will come into effect from Tuesday.
Export duties on petrol, diesel and ATF were first introduced on March 27 to discourage exports and ensure sufficient domestic supplies as tensions in West Asia disrupted global energy markets.
The rates are reviewed every fortnight based on international prices of crude oil and petroleum products, with the last revision carried out on June 1.
The duty hike comes as the government continues to monitor fuel supplies and take measures to safeguard domestic availability.
In a detailed update released on Monday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said all refineries are operating at high capacity and maintaining adequate crude oil inventories, while sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are available across the country.
The ministry said all fuel retail outlets are functioning normally and there is no shortage of petrol or diesel, despite unusually high sales and crowding reported at some locations.
To shield consumers from the impact of rising global crude prices, the government has also reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per litre.
On the LPG front, the government said domestic household supplies are being prioritised.
No LPG distributorships have reported stock-outs, and nearly 1.84 crore cylinders were delivered over the last four days against bookings of around 1.66 crore cylinders.
Online bookings and delivery authentication measures have also been strengthened to prevent diversion and black marketing.
The ministry further said natural gas supplies have been prioritised for domestic PNG consumers and the transport sector, while supplies to fertiliser plants remain at normal levels.
The government is also pushing the expansion of piped natural gas (PNG) networks to reduce dependence on LPG.
To curb hoarding and unauthorised fuel sales, the Centre has directed oil marketing companies and state governments to intensify monitoring and enforcement.
Since March, authorities have registered over 1,300 FIRs related to LPG violations and seized nearly 76,000 cylinders. In separate action against fuel-related irregularities, more than 91,000 litres of diesel and over 12,000 litres of petrol have been seized across the country.
Officials said the latest export duty revision forms part of a broader strategy to balance domestic fuel availability with global market developments while maintaining supply stability for consumers and key industries.
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