New Delhi, March 11 S&P Global Ratings said on Wednesday that the profit margins of oil marketing companies like IOC, BPCL, and HPCL could suffer as they are likely to maintain retail prices of petrol and diesel unchanged to curb inflationary pressures.
Oil prices have risen since the start of the US-Iran war, with crude prices reaching over USD 100 per barrel earlier this week, as the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows, remained effectively closed. Crude prices have fallen to USD 88 a barrel on Wednesday.
S&P Global Ratings has recently revised its 2026 average price assumption for Brent crude oil prices by USD 5 to USD 65.
The US-based rating agency said that India will remain dependent on maritime routes to meet its crude needs, but there is some scope for diversification as the country has a history of buying oil from outside Asia, such as from Russia and South America.
Purchases from Russia currently stand at 1.1 million bpd, while that from Venezuela has resumed last month at 142,000 bpd, it added.
India imports 88 per cent of its crude oil, making it the third-largest oil importer in the world. The country consumes 5.8 million bpd, of which 2.5-2.7 million passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Exposure to the strait amounts to 55 per cent of LPG and 30 per cent of its LNG consumption.
S&P said that despite the high exposure, India has limited reserves. Its strategic petroleum reserves support 10 days of consumption while its commercial stocks support roughly 65 days.
LPG and LNG stockpiles are even lower, reportedly around 25-30 days and 10-12 days, respectively.
It said that government directives and rising prices may drive down margins. Risks to upstream players such as ONGC will be reduced by higher sale prices and limited operating exposures to the Middle East.
However, downstream players, such as India's oil marketing companies (OMCs), will face both market and regulatory headwinds.
"In India, LPG prices for consumers are regulated. Amid rising prices, OMCs such as Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) may need to maintain steady retail prices for petrol and diesel to curb inflationary pressures, in our view.
"Their margins could suffer as a result. The government may use budgetary allocations and excise duty cuts to ease resulting pressures on the OMCs, as it has done during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but the likelihood of such measures remains uncertain," S&P said.