The government has scrapped the export levy on petrol for the next fortnight while continuing to charge duties on diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF), according to a ministry of finance notification issued on Friday.The revised rates will take effect from August 15, with petrol exports attracting no Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) or Road and Infrastructure Cess (RIC). Diesel exports will continue to attract SAED of Rs 24 per litre, while the SAED on ATF exports has been fixed at Rs 19.5 per litre.The changes will remain in force for the August 15-31 fortnight and form part of the government’s fortnightly review of export levies on petroleum products. The latest revision follows the previous adjustment made on August 3.The Finance Ministry’s August 14 notification said the SAED and RIC on petrol exports had both been reduced to nil. In the case of diesel, the SAED has been set at Rs 24 per litre with no RIC, while ATF exports will attract SAED of Rs 19.5 per litre.The government introduced the export levies in March 2026 amid the West Asia crisis. The measure was aimed at ensuring domestic availability of petrol, diesel and ATF by discouraging exports of the petroleum products.The levies are reviewed every fortnight based on the average international prices of crude oil, petrol, diesel and ATF prevailing during the period since the previous review. The policy was introduced against a backdrop of heightened uncertainty in global energy markets, with the government seeking to make overseas sales of key petroleum products less attractive and incentivise domestic availability.The latest notification applies only to petroleum products cleared for export. There is no change in the existing excise duty rates on petrol and diesel cleared for domestic consumption, the government has clarified.For the August 15-31 period, therefore, petrol exports will carry no export levy, while diesel exports will attract Rs 24 per litre and ATF exports Rs 19.5 per litre.
