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Fuel Prices Today, 2 April 2026: Fuel prices across major Indian cities remain largely stable today, Thursday, April 2, 2026. While state-run outlets have held regular fuel rates steady, private retailers and premium variants have seen significant hikes. Global oil prices have retreated from multi-year highs, with benchmark Brent and WTI futures dipping back toward the $100 per barrel threshold following a period of extreme volatility driven by the West Asia conflict.
Fuel Prices Today (April 2, 2026)
| Fuel Type | Variant | Price (Delhi) |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | Regular | ₹94.77 per Litre |
| Petrol | Premium (XP95/Speed) | ₹101.89 per Litre |
| Petrol | XP100 (High-Octane) | ₹160.00 per Litre |
| Diesel | Regular | ₹87.67 per Litre |
| Diesel | High Speed / Turbo | ₹92.45 per Litre |
| CNG | Standard | ₹77.09 per Kg |
| LPG | Domestic (14.2 kg) | ₹913.00 per Cylinder |
| LPG | Commercial (19 kg) | ₹1,884.50 per Cylinder |
| PNG | Domestic (Piped Gas) | ₹47.89 per SCM |
Metro City Comparison (per Litre)
| City | Petrol Price | Diesel Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | ₹103.54 | ₹90.01 |
| Bangalore | ₹102.96 | ₹90.99 |
| Chennai | ₹100.85 | ₹92.40 |
| Kolkata | ₹105.41 | ₹91.80 |
| Hyderabad | ₹107.46 | ₹97.82 |
Recent Market Developments
- Premium Fuel Hike: On April 1, 2026, Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) raised the price of its high-octane XP100 petrol in Delhi to ₹160 per litre (up from ₹149)
- Private Retailers: Private players like Shell India and Nayara Energy have implemented sharp price increases. Shell’s standard petrol in Bengaluru now costs approximately ₹119.85 per litre
- Aviation & Commercial: Jet fuel (ATF) prices saw a massive spike, briefly doubling before being revised for domestic airlines
Key Market Insights
- Excise Duty Status: Effective March 27, 2026, the central excise duty stands at ₹3 per litre on petrol and is nil on diesel
- Private vs. State Pumps: While state-run pumps (IOCL, BPCL, HPCL) are holding rates, private retailers like Nayara Energy have increased prices by roughly ₹5 for petrol and ₹3 for diesel
- LPG Subsidy: Despite the ₹60 hike in domestic LPG earlier this month, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries continue to receive a ₹300 subsidy per cylinder
- Global Volatility: The Indian basket of crude oil reached $115.75 per barrel in late March, making India highly vulnerable to supply disruptions
Global Oil Market Today
Global oil prices have retreated from multi-year highs, with benchmarks dipping toward $100 per barrel after peaking near $120 earlier in March.
| Benchmark | Price (USD/bbl) | Daily Change | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brent Crude | $100.54 | -2.7% | Retreating from March highs |
| WTI Crude | $98.77 | -2.5% | Below $100 threshold |
| Urals Oil | $123.45 | NA | Reflects shift in trade flows |
Crude Oil (CLW00) Price Chart
- Open: $98.92 | High: $99.21 | Low: $97.70
- Previous Close: $100.12 | Volume: 7,501 | Open Interest: 272,864
- Daily Change: -2.04%
Critical Market Drivers
- De-escalation Hopes: Prices tumbled after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the war in Iran could end within two to three weeks, sparking a relief rally in global stock markets
- OPEC+ Supply Boost: OPEC+ members (including Saudi Arabia and Russia) agreed to increase production by 206,000 barrels per day starting this April to stabilize markets
- Strategic Chokepoints: The Strait of Hormuz—which handles 20% of seaborne oil—remains largely closed or heavily restricted due to the conflict
- Global Inflation: Prolonged high energy costs are already impacting economies, with South Korea reporting a surge in consumer inflation for March
6-Month Fuel Price Trend (Delhi)
| Month | Petrol (Regular) | Diesel (Regular) | Market Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | ₹94.77 | ₹87.67 | Stability phase; OMCs absorb global costs |
| November 2025 | ₹94.77 | ₹87.67 | Prices remain frozen at state-run pumps |
| December 2025 | ₹94.72 | ₹87.62 | Minor local adjustments |
| January 2026 | ₹94.72 | ₹87.62 | Domestic rates decouple from rising crude |
| February 2026 | ₹94.72 | ₹87.62 | Geopolitical tensions trigger global spikes |
| March 2026 | ₹94.77 | ₹87.67 | ₹10 Excise Cut; Premium fuels hiked |
| April 2, 2026 | ₹94.77 | ₹87.67 | Current Rate |
Key Trend Drivers
- The “Price Freeze” Period: For nearly five months, retail prices for regular petrol and diesel saw zero net change. State-run OMCs held rates steady to control inflation, even as global crude climbed
- Excise Duty Cut (March 27, 2026): As global oil prices approached $149 per barrel, the Central Government slashed excise duty by ₹10 per litre
- Absorption Strategy: Retail prices did not drop by the full ₹10; OMCs used the tax relief to “repair their balance sheets”—offsetting massive losses from expensive imports
- Premium Fuel Divergence: While regular fuel stayed flat, Premium Petrol (XP95/Speed) saw a hike of roughly ₹2 per litre in late March; XP100 jumped to ₹160 on April 1
- LPG Spike: Domestic LPG surged by ₹60 on March 7 to reach the current ₹913 per cylinder in Delhi
Comparison: Domestic vs. Global Trend
- International Crude: Brent rose from $65/b in September 2025 to a peak of $149/b in March 2026
- Domestic Impact: Regular petrol/diesel prices rose by less than 0.1% over six months, despite a 60%+ surge in global oil
What This Means for Consumers
- State-Run Pumps: Regular petrol and diesel remain stable at ₹94.77/L and ₹87.67/L respectively
- Premium Fuels: Expect to pay significantly more for high-octane variants like XP100 (₹160/L in Delhi)
- Private Pumps: Shell, Nayara, and other private outlets charge ₹5–₹25 more per litre
- LPG: Domestic cylinder prices remain at post-hike levels; Ujjwala beneficiaries receive a ₹300 subsidy
Disclaimer: Fuel prices are subject to daily revisions by oil marketing companies. Rates are indicative and may vary by outlet. Please check with local fuel stations for exact pricing.
