India caps diesel sales at retail pumps, restricts bulk fuel purchases for 90 days

India has imposed restrictions on the sale of motor spirit (petrol) and high-speed diesel (HSD) at retail fuel outlets, limiting bulk purchases and directing institutional and commercial users to source fuel through their dedicated consumer or captive pumps, according to an official government notification.

The directive, aimed at curbing diversion of subsidized or retail-priced fuel, will remain in force for an initial period of up to 90 days unless withdrawn or modified by a separate order.

Under the new rules, retail outlet dealers have been instructed not to sell more than 200 litres of high-speed diesel to any single customer or vehicle in a day. The order also bars the resale of diesel purchased from retail fuel stations, tightening oversight on bulk fuel movement.

The government said the move is intended to ensure that fuel sold at retail pumps is primarily used by individual consumers, while large institutional and commercial buyers are required to procure their requirements through authorized channels.

The restriction is expected to impact bulk fuel buyers and could influence demand patterns for oil marketing companies, including Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, which may see increased scrutiny of retail fuel distribution.

Shares of oil marketing companies are likely to remain in focus in the wake of the development.

The move comes amid heightened volatility in global energy markets, as India continues to navigate supply-side pressures linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Fuel prices in the country have seen multiple upward revisions in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, fuel prices have continued to rise. Petrol prices in Delhi have increased by ₹ 4.75 per litre (around 5 per cent) since May 15, while diesel prices have risen by ₹ 4.82 per litre (about 5.49 per cent), reflecting sustained pressure from global crude oil trends.

The recent price increases follow an ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted global shipping routes and tightened supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint handling nearly one-fifth of global oil trade. The disruption has pushed crude oil prices higher in international markets.

While most economies have quickly passed on rising costs to consumers, India has kept domestic fuel prices stable for an extended period. According to government officials, India remained the only major economy to hold fuel prices steady for the first 76 days of the Hormuz disruption before initiating adjustments.