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Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) on Wednesday reported a net loss of Rs 3,962 crore in the June quarter on keeping petrol, diesel and LPG prices way below cost that had soared due to the West Asia crisis. The net loss of Rs 3,962.13 crore in April-June - the first quarter of current 2026-27 fiscal year - compared with a profit of Rs 3,333.97 crore in the same period a year back, according to a stock exchange filing by the company. BPCL and other state-owned fuel retailers - Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) - held petrol and diesel prices steady for two-and-half-months despite a more than 50 per cent surge in prices of crude oil - the raw material for making petrol and diesel - after the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28 and Tehran retaliated. And when these companies increased prices by over Rs 7.50 a litre in the second half of May, it wasn't enough to cover for the cost. The cooking gas price increase of Rs 89 per 14.2-kg
Petroleum products, and electronic goods are helping India increase its exports to China, with which it has a huge trade deficit of about USD 100 billion, according to the commerce ministry data. India's exports to China rose from USD 9.20 billion in April-November 2024 to USD 12.22 billion in April-November 2025, an increase of 32.83 per cent year-on-year. Petroleum products emerged as the largest contributor in the exports to China. It was followed by electronic goods, marine products, and oil meals, the data showed. "This sharp increase highlights strengthening trade momentum with China, supported by higher demand across key commodity segments and improved export performance over the period," an official said.