Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Private Fuel Retailers Cap Diesel Sales as Bulk Demand Rises
Diesel at regular petrol pumps is currently cheaper than diesel sold directly to large businesses.
This has encouraged factories, hospitals, hotels and other companies to buy fuel from ordinary petrol stations.
Some of them are buying hundreds of litres at once.
That can reduce the amount of fuel available at individual stations.
Jio-bp now limits customers to 50 litres of diesel per day.
Nayara Energy has limits between 70 and 200 litres, depending on the outlet.
Public-sector fuel companies may also set limits soon.
The companies say their stations are operating and have fuel, but they want to make supplies available to more customers.
The price difference exists because retail prices have stayed unchanged while international oil prices and bulk-fuel prices have risen.
Jio-bp has capped diesel purchases at 50 litres per customer per day.
Nayara Energy outlets have set transaction limits ranging from 70 to 200 litres.
Factories, hospitals, hotels and other bulk users are buying cheaper retail diesel, sometimes purchasing up to 600 litres.
The price difference between retail and bulk diesel has reached as much as Rs 40 per litre.
Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum are expected to introduce similar restrictions.
- Who
- Jio-bp and Nayara Energy have imposed limits; industrial and other bulk consumers are increasing purchases from retail outlets. Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum may follow.
- What
- Private fuel retailers have restricted diesel purchases as bulk users shift to cheaper retail fuel.
- When
- The restrictions were reported on September 28; retail petrol and diesel prices have remained unchanged since May.
- Where
- Retail fuel stations across India.
- Why
- Retail diesel is up to Rs 40 per litre cheaper than diesel supplied to bulk consumers, increasing demand at petrol pumps and pressuring station inventories.
Protecting retail fuel access
Reducing costs for bulk users
Purchase restrictions
Protecting retail fuel access
Jio-bp says measures are intended to ensure equitable availability for mobility and transportation needs, particularly when industrial and non-transport demand is high.
Reducing costs for bulk users
Industrial users are turning to retail outlets because diesel there is substantially cheaper than fuel supplied through dedicated bulk-consumer channels.
Fuel availability
Protecting retail fuel access
Retailers say individual stations have finite storage and may need at least a couple of days for replenishment, making unusually large purchases difficult to absorb.
Reducing costs for bulk users
Jio-bp says its mobility stations are operational and adequately stocked, while Nayara says it is maintaining supplies across its dealer network and other channels.
Possible expansion of limits
Protecting retail fuel access
Restrictions could help prevent industrial purchases from reducing access for motorists and transportation users at retail stations.
Reducing costs for bulk users
Bulk consumers may continue using retail pumps if the large price gap persists, potentially increasing their costs if limits make those purchases more difficult.
- Jio-bp limit
- 50 litres per customer per day
- Nayara Energy limits
- 70 to 200 litres per transaction, depending on the outlet
- Bulk purchases
- Some industrial users are buying up to 600 litres at a time
- Retail-bulk price gap
- As much as Rs 40 per litre
- Retail price trend
- Petrol and diesel prices at retail outlets have remained unchanged since May
- International crude price
- Around USD 108 per barrel
- Fuel-station networks
- Jio-bp operates 2,227 outlets and Nayara Energy serves more than 7,000 stations
