Diesel fuel and petrol prices on 18 August 2026 in India
Diesel fuel and petrol prices across major Indian cities remained unchanged on 18 August 2026, with diesel fuel holding at ₹87.62 per litre and petrol at ₹94.72 per litre in Delhi. Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata also reported no price revisions, extending a long period of fuel-rate stability that continues to shape household budgets nationwide.
Key Takeaways
- Diesel fuel prices stayed flat at ₹87.62/litre in Delhi and ₹89.62/litre in Kolkata on 18 August 2026.
- Petrol held steady at ₹94.72/litre in Delhi and ₹103.44/litre in Mumbai — still India's priciest metro for fuel.
- No revision has been made to petrol or diesel fuel rates since May 2024, marking over two years of unchanged prices.
- Kolkata's prolonged price stability is reportedly easing household financial planning, according to local reports.
- Oil marketing companies review prices daily at 6 a.m. based on global crude benchmarks and exchange rates.
How much does diesel fuel cost in Delhi, Mumbai, and other metros?
On 18 August, diesel fuel was priced at ₹87.62 per litre in Delhi and ₹89.62 per litre in Kolkata. Mumbai residents continued paying ₹90.00 per litre for diesel, while Bengaluru's rate stood at ₹88.94 per litre. Chennai reported diesel at ₹88.75 per litre and Hyderabad at ₹88.81 per litre.
Petrol prices mirrored the same trend of zero movement. Delhi's petrol cost ₹94.72 per litre, Mumbai topped the chart at ₹103.44 per litre, Bengaluru came in at ₹102.86 per litre, Chennai at ₹100.75 per litre, and Hyderabad at ₹107.41 per litre.
Why have fuel prices stayed the same for so long?
India's state-run oil marketing companies — Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum — technically revise petrol and diesel fuel rates daily based on a 15-day rolling average of international crude oil prices and the USD-INR exchange rate. In practice, however, prices have not moved since May 2024.
Analysts point to a combination of government policy signalling ahead of state elections and a relatively range-bound global crude market. Brent crude has traded in a narrow band for much of 2026, giving OMCs little reason to adjust domestic rates upward or downward.
What does this mean for household budgets?
The extended price freeze has provided unusual predictability for Indian consumers. In Kolkata, reports indicate that fuel-cost stability is helping households plan monthly expenses more confidently, particularly for transport and cooking-gas-adjacent spending.
For commuters and small businesses that depend on diesel fuel for logistics, steady rates have effectively capped a key input cost. Whether this calm holds depends on global crude trends and any policy shifts after upcoming state elections.
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How are fuel prices determined each day?
Oil marketing companies evaluate benchmark crude prices (Brent and Dubai) alongside the rupee-dollar exchange rate every morning at 6 a.m. IST. Revised rates, if any, take effect at fuel pumps from that time. Consumers can check live city-wise prices via the Mint fuel tracker or by sending an SMS to their respective OMC's shortcode.