Windfall tax on diesel, ATF export cut; levy on domestic crude oil hiked

The government has halved the windfall tax on the export of diesel and scrapped the levy on jet fuel (ATF) shipments but raised the tax on domestically produced crude oil.

The tax on the export of diesel was cut to Rs 5 per litre from Rs 11, according to an official notification issued on Tuesday evening.

Export of petrol will continue to attract nil tax.

The tax on domestically produced crude oil was hiked to Rs 17,750 per tonne from Rs 17,000, a move that will hit producers like ONGC and Vedanta Ltd.

The cut in taxes - the second in as many weeks - came as India's trade gap swelled to a record.

The measures come hours after data showed India's trade deficit ballooned to a record high in July, as elevated commodity prices and a weak rupee inflated the country's import bill.

The gap between exports and imports widened to $31.02 billion in July from $26.18 billion in June.

This, as a result of exports falling and elevated commodity prices together with a weak rupee, is inflating the import bill.

Imports jumped 43.59 per cent in July from the year-ago month, while exports dropped 0.76 per cent.

India first imposed windfall taxes on July 1, joining a growing number of nations that taxes super normal profits of energy companies.

But international oil prices have cooled since then, eroding profit margins at both oil producers and refiners.

On July 1, export duties of Rs 6 per litre ($12 per barrel) were levied on petrol and ATF and a Rs 13 a litre tax on the export of diesel ($26 a barrel).

A Rs 23,250 per tonne windfall tax on domestic crude production ($40 per barrel) was also levied.

Thereafter, in the first fortnightly review on July 20, the Rs 6 a litre export duty on petrol was scrapped, and the tax on the export of diesel and jet fuel (ATF) was cut by Rs 2 per litre each to Rs 11 and Rs 4, respectively.

The tax on domestically produced crude was also cut to Rs 17,000 per tonne.

Now, the export tax on diesel and ATF has been cut following a drop in refinery cracks or margins.

But the levy on domestically produced crude oil has been raised in line with a marginal increase in international crude prices.

Prashant Vasisht, vice president and co-head, corporate ratings, Icra Limited, said "the tinkering of the export duties is being done on the basis of the movement of the cracks spreads on these products, which have been elevated but volatile due to the geopolitical situation, lockdown news, inventory levels, demand fluctuations etc".

Additionally, the windfall tax on crude production has also been increased, though marginally considering the international crude oil price trends.

"Though certainly tinkering these rates frequently creates its own uncertainty, however, considering the high level of prices (crude prices consistently above $100 per barrel, crack spreads of diesel above $30 a barrel etc), a number of countries have imposed windfall taxes and accordingly as a measure per se, India is not the only country to implement this," he said.