India increased export duties on key refined fuels, the government said in a statement late Friday. The adjustments raise the levy on petrol exports to 3 rupees per litre, boost the diesel export duty to 16.5 rupees per litre and lift the duty on aviation turbine fuel to 16 rupees per litre.
The announcement came a day after New Delhi raised retail fuel prices for the first time since the Iran war began. The government did not change excise duty rates on petrol and diesel for consumption within India; those domestic excise rates remain as previously set.
Officials conduct a formal review of export duty rates on a fortnightly basis. In setting the updated charges, authorities calculate levels using average international prices for crude oil, petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel over the period since the previous review. That calculation method is the stated basis for the current increases.
The adjustments are limited to export levies and do not alter the excise duty applied to domestic petrol and diesel sales. The government’s fortnightly rhythm for reviews and its explicit reliance on international average prices frame how export duties will be reappraised in coming cycles.
By raising export duties while leaving domestic excise untouched, the government’s measures distinguish between levies aimed at external shipments and those affecting internal market consumption. The statement provided the new per-litre figures but did not include supplementary commentary beyond the explanation of the review methodology.
Observers tracking fuel policy and trade flows will note the timing of the change - immediately following a retail price rise - and the retention of the fortnightly review mechanism as the operative process for future adjustments. The export duty increases and the review framework are the only changes disclosed in the government statement released late Friday.