The sale of branded petrol and diesel, considered to be more efficient, has dipped by 27 and 50 per cent, respectively, in 2010-11 over the previous year (see chart), despite OMCs selling the products at a thin margin of less than a rupee.
Compared to 2007-08, when sales of branded fuel had peaked, sale of branded petrol has slipped 53 per cent, while diesel is down by 84 per cent.
Overall sales of petrol and diesel have grown by 37 and 26 per cent, respectively, in the same period. In 2010-11, petrol sale stood at 14.19 million tonnes (mt), while diesel sale was 59.99 mt.
At present, the difference between petrol and Xtrapremium (Indian Oil's branded petrol) in Delhi is Rs 2.50 a litre.
Xtrapremium sells at Rs 66.20, while non-branded petrol sells at Rs 63.70.
Similarly, diesel sells at Rs 41.29, while branded diesel of Indian Oil (Xtramile) is sold for Rs 46.21 a difference of Rs 4.92.
An IndianOil executive said out of the difference amount of Rs 2.50 on every litre of branded and regular petrol, Rs 1.18 goes to the central government as duties, while Rs 0.42
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